The Struggle Against Apartheid

Children's Literature - Danielle Williams

One of the most horrific actions that can be perpetrated by one group of people on another is the restriction of their basic human rights based on skin color or religion. Apartheid in South Africa has a long and violent history. Despite the fact that the majority of South Africans are black, the white minority was able to control the government for nearly a century and pass increasingly restrictive laws that kept black citizens restricted to living in poorer areas of the country and working menial jobs. It took many decades and extreme international pressure before black South Africans were granted limited rights and many decades more before Apartheid was defeated entirely. Coster presents a very clear picture of Apartheid, including the courage of many black South Africans who led the national movement to end Apartheid and the violence that erupted throughout South Africa until the end of Apartheid. Images appearing throughout add depth to the text and a timeline on each page catalogs the major events discussed on that page along with major events prior to and following the topic under discussion. The text is part of the "Timelines" series. Reviewer: Danielle Williams