how was apartheid different from the racism that existed before, in colonial south africa

Answer 1

Apartheid in South Africa was a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that was implemented in 1948. It was different from the racism that existed before in colonial South Africa in several key ways:

1. Legalized discrimination: Apartheid was codified into law, with a series of legislation that enforced racial segregation in all aspects of society, including education, housing, employment, and public services. This differed from the informal and social discrimination that existed before, as apartheid made racial segregation a legal requirement.

2. Systematic oppression: Apartheid was a comprehensive system that sought to control and oppress the non-white population in South Africa, particularly the black majority. It enforced strict racial classification and restricted the movement and rights of non-white individuals, with the government actively enforcing these laws through the police and military.

3. Institutionalized racism: Apartheid was implemented as a state policy, with government institutions and resources used to uphold and enforce racial segregation. This differed from the racism that existed before in colonial South Africa, which was more likely to be perpetuated by individual attitudes and actions rather than being enshrined in law.

Overall, apartheid represented a more extreme and systemic form of racism than what existed before in colonial South Africa, with the government actively implementing policies that sought to oppress and segregate non-white populations.