“In the 1940s, traveling for an African was a complicated process. All Africans over the age of sixteen were compelled to carry ‘Native passes’ issued by the Native Affairs Department and were required to show that pass to any white policeman, civil servant, or employer. Failure to do so could mean arrest, trial, a jail sentence or fine.”
Image credits: John Mathew Smith 2001,”From Wash D.C. Longworth building October 4, 1994. Mandela’s first trip to the United States.”,CC BY-SA 2.0,Nelson Mandela 1994 – Nelson Mandela – Wikipedia
- July 18, 1918 – December 5, 2013
- Born in South Africa
- Politician, lawyer
- The first black president of South Africa, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for abolishing apartheid and building a democratic South Africa where multiple ethnic groups coexist.
Quote
“In the 1940s, traveling for an African was a complicated process. All Africans over the age of sixteen were compelled to carry ‘Native passes’ issued by the Native Affairs Department and were required to show that pass to any white policeman, civil servant, or employer. Failure to do so could mean arrest, trial, a jail sentence or fine.”
Explanation
This quote describes one of the most notorious aspects of apartheid South Africa: the system of pass laws that severely restricted the movement of Black South Africans. These laws were designed to control the movement and residence of Black people, ensuring that they remained in designated areas, typically rural homelands or urban townships, unless they were employed in white areas. The “Native pass” was essentially an identity card that carried details about an individual’s work and residence status. Any African over the age of sixteen had to carry this pass at all times, and failure to produce it upon request by any white authority—such as a police officer, civil servant, or employer—could lead to arrest, fines, or imprisonment.
Historically, the pass laws were a key component of apartheid’s system of racial control, which sought to restrict the movement and freedom of Black South Africans. Introduced under British colonial rule and later solidified by the National Party after it came to power in 1948, the pass laws were part of a broader strategy to segregate and exploit Black people while maintaining white dominance. They forced Black South Africans to live in segregated areas, making it difficult for them to travel freely, whether for work, education, or leisure. The resistance to these laws played a significant role in the rise of the anti-apartheid movement, with notable figures like Nelson Mandela and organizations like the ANC organizing protests and acts of civil disobedience against this oppressive system.
In modern terms, the quote highlights the intersection of racism and legal systems used to maintain oppressive structures. The pass laws were a precursor to the systematic disenfranchisement and segregation that would define apartheid. It also serves as a stark reminder of the power of legislation in shaping people’s lives and limiting freedom, an issue that remains relevant in the context of racial justice discussions today. In the context of global history, this quote can be seen as part of the broader pattern of racial laws that have been used to control populations, such as Jim Crow laws in the United States or colonial segregation in other parts of the world. The enduring impact of these systems continues to be felt, and the struggle for freedom of movement and equality is ongoing.
