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.
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
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the enduring psychological impact of the Apartheid system on Black South Africans, arguing that the colonial structure of Apartheid inflicted significant psychological damage alongside physical and economic repression. It seeks to explore how institutionalized racism, dehumanization, and systemic deprivation of rights influenced the inner states and self-conception of the oppressed population.
- The psychology of oppression and its role in colonial systems.
- The formation and maintenance of a colonial superiority complex among white South Africans.
- The psychological consequences of verbal and physical abuse, including state-sponsored torture.
- The impact of institutional discrimination, such as the deprivation of political and citizenship rights.
- The role of the Bantu Education system in enforcing subjugation and controlling intellectual development.
Excerpt from the Book
III The Consequential Treatment of Blacks and Its Psychological Sequelae
Because the Apartheid government viewed people of colour as inferior, they systematically dehumanized Blacks for their own purposes and benefits. This meant treating them as though they were less human than others, as though they did not have the same needs and wants as others, and as though their suffering did not matter as much. In his poem Because I'm Black, H.I.E. Dhlomo confirms exactly that as he describes the social situation in Apartheid South Africa:
“Because I´m black/ You think I lack/ The talents,/ feelings and ambitions/ That others have;/ You do not think I crave positions/ That others crave./ […] Because the people eat and sing/ And mate,/ You do not see their suffering./ You rate/ Them fools/ And tools/ Of those with power and boastful show;/ Not Fate, but chance, has made things so”.
The `you´ in his poem refers to white South Africans who, in their daily interaction with Blacks, were overtly harsh, disrespectful, and even inhumane. Non-white South Africans had to endure not only individual racism but institutional racism, which legalizes and enforces racial inequality and maltreatment of members of another `race´ from above. This is the most potent form of racial violence and oppression, for it affects not only individuals but a large number of people and allows the oppressor to move and act freely.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides an overview of the colonial nature of Apartheid and establishes the thesis that the system caused profound psychological damage to Black South Africans.
I The Psychology of Oppression: Discusses the theoretical framework of oppression, highlighting how members of marginalized groups may internalize the values of the oppressor.
II Apartheid and the Colonial Superiority Complex: Analyzes the ideological roots of Apartheid, focusing on how white South Africans utilized a superiority complex to justify colonial dominance and dehumanization.
III The Consequential Treatment of Blacks and Its Psychological Sequelae: Examines specific mechanisms of repression, including verbal and physical abuse, legal disenfranchisement, and the restrictive nature of the Bantu Education system.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, asserting that the psychological impacts of Apartheid are deep-seated and require continued attention through curriculum reform and acknowledgment of Black history.
Keywords
Apartheid, South Africa, Psychology of Oppression, Colonialism, Dehumanization, Bantu Education, Racial Inequality, Institutional Racism, Self-Esteem, Political Torture, Mental Health, National Party, Cultural Identity, Social Darwinism, Human Rights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the psychological impacts that the Apartheid system in South Africa had on the Black population, arguing that the system went beyond economic and physical control to affect the psychological well-being of the oppressed.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key themes include colonial superiority complexes, the psychology of oppression, institutionalized racism, the effects of torture and physical violence, and the role of education as a tool for subjugation.
What is the main research question?
The research aims to understand how the white supremacist mind-set and the policies of the Apartheid government caused psychological damage and influenced the self-conception of Black South Africans.
Which scientific methods were employed?
The paper utilizes a qualitative analysis based on existing psychological research and literature on the psychology of oppression, linking global theories to the specific socio-political context of Apartheid South Africa.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It covers the theoretical basis of oppression, the colonial superiority complex, and investigates three major areas of repression: verbal/physical abuse, deprivation of legal rights, and the Bantu Education system.
Which keywords best describe this study?
The study is characterized by terms such as Apartheid, colonial superiority, psychological sequelae, institutionalized racism, and Bantu Education.
How did the Apartheid government use education to control the population?
The Bantu Education Act of 1953 restricted the curriculum to ensure that Black students did not gain the skills or critical thinking abilities to pursue roles beyond a certain class, thereby maintaining their inferior position in society.
What is the significance of the poem by H.I.E. Dhlomo mentioned in the text?
The poem is used to illustrate the dehumanization and social disregard experienced by Black South Africans, providing a literary perspective on the harsh reality of living under institutionalized racism.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Susanna Harper (Autor:in), 2012, The Psychological Impacts of Apartheid on Black South Africans, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/264561
