During the mid 1900s, South Africa had a system of government known as Apartheid. Apartheid was a racist system in which the white minority held the power over the black majority and enforced segregation. During a planned nonviolent protest in Sharpeville on March 21, 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 peaceful demonstrators (James 1). Nelson Mandela was a political activist who fought against Apartheid using nonviolent methods. He worked tirelessly to bring equity to South Africa and was imprisoned from June 1964-February 1990 (nearly 26 years). Madela’s work and sacrifice made the world better and his impact continues even after his death. Mandela’s goal was to bring equity through unity to a system of government that had none (Mandela 1). Apartheid was the political party in control from 1948-1994. Apartheid believed in segregation and classified citizens based on four different racial groups: “black,” “white,” “colored,” and “Indian.” Beginning in 1960, 3.5 million non-white citizens were removed from their homes and forced into segregated neighborhoods. In 1970, non-white citizens lost their citizenship and the ability to be politically represented. Although Apartheid was officially abolished in 1991, non-whites were unable to vote until 1993 (Buckwalter). …show more content…
The UDHR was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948; it formed the foundation of rights that all human beings are entitled. For example, human beings are entitled to equal rights regardless of a different sex, a different skin color, speaking a different language, thinking different things, believing in a different religion, and differences in wealth (UDHR article 2). By segregating people in South Africa, Apartheid violated human beings most basic legal