Apartheid was a highly colonial system. Its main issue was not so much the segregation of races – as the name suggests –, but rather the severe inequality that came with racial classification and segregation. Because Whites believed themselves to be superior to people of colour, they reserved for themselves rights and privileges which were not granted to members of other racial groups. Consequently, the life of Blacks (Africans, Coloureds, and Indians) was marked with restrictions, prohibitions, and ill-treatment.
Recognizing Apartheid as a form of colonialism, this paper espouses the argument that its legacy is not only one of physical or economic sequelae, but also one of psychological damage on the former oppressed. It attempts to prove that any form of ill-treatment leaves some sort of psychological impact on the person concerned, which then leads to a change in behaviour as an outward expression of his or her changed inner state. For this purpose, this paper will start out by giving a short introduction to the psychology of oppression. Next, it will look at the formation of the white South African mind-set during Apartheid, as the foundation and cause of oppression, leading up to the main subject of this paper. Finally, chapter three will deal with the kind of treatment black South Africans experienced under the rule of the National Party and what psychological research has found out about the possible affects of such treatment.
Since most of the research done on Black psychology and the psychology of oppression stems from overseas countries such as the USA, the literature used in this paper has a wide range. Nevertheless, it was endeavoured to continuously link the existing research to the South African context and situation.
A recent newspaper article on the importance of teaching struggle history at schools and a critical discussion on interracial marriages in modern South Africa first triggered my interest in studying the mind-set of white South Africans during Apartheid. This eventually lead me to my research question with the aim of wanting to find out more about the psychological impact this kind of mind-set had on the country’s oppressed population.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- I The Psychology of Oppression
- II Apartheid and the Colonial Superiority Complex
- III The Consequential Treatment of Blacks and Its Psychological Sequelae
- a. Verbal and Physical Abuse
- b. Deprivation of Rights
- c. Bantu Education
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper explores the psychological impact of Apartheid on Black South Africans. Recognizing Apartheid as a form of colonialism, it argues that its legacy includes not only physical and economic consequences, but also psychological damage on the formerly oppressed. The paper aims to prove that any form of ill-treatment leaves a psychological impact on the individual, leading to behavioral changes as an outward expression of their altered inner state.
- The psychology of oppression and its influence on the oppressed.
- The development of the white South African mindset during Apartheid and its role in oppression.
- The treatment of Black South Africans under Apartheid and its psychological consequences.
- The impact of colonial superiority complex on the oppressed.
- The lasting effects of oppression on individuals and communities.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The paper begins by examining the psychology of oppression, highlighting the tendency of oppressed groups to assimilate to the ways of the oppressor while simultaneously despising their own heritage. This chapter utilizes examples of present-day South Africa and research by Thomas F. Pettigrew to illustrate this phenomenon. The second chapter explores the development of the white South African mindset during Apartheid, tracing it back to the origins of colonialism. It argues that colonialism, beyond territorial seizure and foreign domination, involves economic exploitation, cultural eradication, and the degradation of colonized people to “less-than-human entities.” The third chapter delves into the treatment experienced by Black South Africans under the National Party regime, examining the possible psychological consequences of verbal and physical abuse, deprivation of rights, and the implementation of Bantu Education.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper focuses on the psychological impact of Apartheid on Black South Africans, exploring themes of colonialism, oppression, identity, and the effects of systemic discrimination and inequality on mental health and well-being. The study draws on research in the fields of Black psychology, social psychology, and critical race theory.
- Quote paper
- Susanna Harper (Author), 2012, The Psychological Impacts of Apartheid on Black South Africans, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/264561
