Fight for Rights

During the second half of the 20^th century, people all over the world fought for civil rights. Many were being treated unfairly because of their race, skin colour, religion or gender. Others were being denied the vote, barred from forming free trade unions, or prevented from choosing the political leaders they wanted.

The civil rights movement came to the force in the US in the 1960s. In the southern states, blacks were discriminated against in schools, jobs, transport, health care and public life. Protests began in 1955, after Rosa Parks, a black American, was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a bus in Alabama. Non- violent protests were inspired by the words of civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King.

APARTHEID

Apartheid means ‘apartness’. It was a policy used in South Africa from 1948 to 1990 to divide the country into separate areas for whites and blacks. There was segregated education, employment, housing and health care. Most whites had good jobs and lived in comfort, blacks did the heavy work and lived in crowded townships.

King led a march to Washington, DC, in 1963. Over 250,000 people took part, and in 1964 the US government passed a Civil Rights Act that made racial discrimination illegal.

There was a similar struggle in South Africa, where the white minority government’s policy of apartheid (separating the races) was oppressive and cruel. After 69 African protesters were shot dead at Sharpeville in 1960, the campaign became more violent. Black leader Nelson Mandela was jailed from 1962 until 1990. After a long international campaign of protest and sanctions against South Africa, Mandela was released from prison and apartheid ended in 1990.

In Communist countries, people demanded the right to form free trade unions and to vote for whatever kind of government they wanted. Women campaigned for equal pay and job opportunities. New laws in some countries banned sex and age discrimination in employment.