Apartheid — an Extension of Colonialism?
From 1928 until the end of the apartheid, the above was the official flag of South Africa. The three flags in the centre represent former British colonies, as well as former Boer Republics. This flag was created for the Union of South Africa, which combined former colonies. It continued to be the flag of South Africa during the apartheid, which officially began in 1948. To me, this symbolizes an extension of colonialism — if people were so desperate to let go of the past, of colonist rule, why put these colonies on something so monumental in representing their country?
While the apartheid officially began in 1948, segregation and institutionalized racism was already in place long before then. The British imperial tradition of “divide and conquer” was firmly practiced throughout the time in which South Africa was colonized, and the “liberators” of colonist rule continued this tradition as early as 191o, the same year in which South Africa gained independence. Many laws were passed which disadvantaged and belittled natives, as well as other people of color in the country.
The rigid apartheid enacted from 1948 onwards only served to strengthen many segregational systems that were already in place. As such, it is clear to me that apartheid, while supposedly created by rulers who had nothing to do with former colonists, was born out of previous actions of the European colonists. While South African apartheid is the most prominent and well-known, many other previous colonies have also shown similar developments after gaining independence.
