March 21 -- At least 180 black Africans were injured and 69 killed when South African police opened fire on approximately 300 demonstrators, who were protesting against apartheid pass laws, at the township of Sharpeville in the Transvaal.
March 21 -- At least 180 black Africans were injured and 69 killed when South African police opened fire on approximately 300 demonstrators, who were protesting against apartheid pass laws, at the township of Sharpeville in the Transvaal.
The event came to be known as the Sharpeville Massacre. In response to Sharpeville, the government outlawed the African National Congress (ANC).
A large crowd of Black South Africans assembled in front of the
A large crowd of Black South Africans assembled in front of the
Sharpeville police station to protest the pass laws imposed by
apartheid.
The Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC), led by Robert Sobukwe, together
with Nelson Mandela's African National Congress (ANC), organized
the protest for the nation's blacks to join together to demonstrate
peacefully against apartheid.
Rarely in South Africa before 1960 had so many black people
demonstrated their defiance of the laws in any way. The police were
highly apprehensive, not knowing what to expect. Suddenly, tensions
were released: the crowd pelted the policemen with stones, and the
edgy policemen retaliated with gunfire.
In the end, sixty-nine protesters were killed and one hundred and eighty
were wounded (some shot while trying to flee)
In 1960, during a peaceful protest in the city of Sharpeville, 69 people were killed
In 1960, during a peaceful protest in the city of Sharpeville, 69 people were killed
This massacre ignited additional demonstrations and protests against the unfair treatment of non-whites
Stated start of racial harmony throughout South Africa
The Sharpeville Massacre was the start of a new beginning for South Africa, although it came with the loss of many innocent people.
The Sharpeville Massacre was the start of a new beginning for South Africa, although it came with the loss of many innocent people.
The bravery displayed by the blacks is outstanding.
The protests, the riots, the strikes all led up to the racial harmony throughout South Africa.
With the help of the UN, other countries, and brave government officials, the Sharpeville Massacre was the start of a new chapter in South Africa.
When black students went to high school, they had to learn a language.
When black students went to high school, they had to learn a language.
Most students wanted to learn English because it was a general language that people spoke.
However, the government forced the students to learn Afrikaans, the language of Apartheid.
The blacks were angry, so they boycotted the classes and went to protest in Soweto.
“There is no place for [the Bantu] in the European community above the level of certain forms of labour ... What is the use of teaching the Bantu child mathematics when it cannot use it in practice? That is quite absurd. Education must train people in accordance with their opportunities in life, according to the sphere in which they live.”
“There is no place for [the Bantu] in the European community above the level of certain forms of labour ... What is the use of teaching the Bantu child mathematics when it cannot use it in practice? That is quite absurd. Education must train people in accordance with their opportunities in life, according to the sphere in which they live.”
