Anti-Apartheid Movement

For Educators: Anti-Apartheid Movement

Activity 4: Galvanizing Public Support against Apartheid in South Africa: Economic Sanctions and the Congressional Black Caucus

Introduction

Documents Needed:

H.R. 4868 Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986

Congressional Record, March 7, 1985: Introduction of the Anti-Apartheid Act of 1985 by Honorable William H. Gray, III of Pennsylvania, House of Representatives

Photograph - Detroit Free South Africa Protest (1 of 2)

Photograph - Detroit Free South Africa Protest (2 of 2)

Image - March in front of the South African Embassy, Washington, DC as part of the Free South Africa protest movement

Materials Needed:

Easel pad paper and markers

Document Analysis Worksheet (pdf)

Photograph Analysis Worksheet (pdf)

Computer with Internet access

Implementation

Print out the Avoice Virtual Library Anti-Apartheid Legislation page and provide a copy of the web page and the other documents for each student. Allow the students time to review the copies. To focus their study of the documents, share with them a copy of the Photograph and Document Analysis Worksheets (pdf) from the National Archives.

Discussion:
After the students have reviewed the documents, lead them in a whole class discussion about bans and conditions discussed in the resolution and Mr. Gray’s speech before the House of Representatives. Ask the students the following questions:

Do you think that proposing sanctions against South Africa was a necessary next step to end racial discrimination?

Would you support economic sanctioning against other countries that practice violation of its citizens’ human rights? Why?

Assign a student to record remarks on easel pad sheets to be posted in the classroom.

Creative Writing:
Return the students' attention to the images. Ask them to review the images again, but for this exercise have them to write a short story about what is happening in one of the images. Encourage the students to incorporate facts learned during classroom discussions.