Apartheid的意思

"Apartheid" is an Afrikaans word that means "apartness" or "separateness" in English. It was a political and social system in South Africa that enforced racial segregation and discrimination against non-white people, primarily black Africans, Coloureds (people of mixed race), and Asians. Apartheid was implemented by the National Party, which came to power in South Africa in 1948, and it lasted until the early 1990s.

Under apartheid, the government passed laws that separated people according to their race in virtually all aspects of life, including residential areas, education, employment, and public facilities. Black Africans were systematically oppressed and denied basic human rights, including the right to vote. The system was designed to maintain white dominance over the country and its resources.

The struggle against apartheid was a significant global issue, with many countries and organizations imposing economic sanctions on South Africa in an effort to end the system of racial segregation and discrimination. The efforts of activists within South Africa and around the world, including the leadership of figures like Nelson Mandela, eventually led to the end of apartheid and the establishment of a democratic government in South Africa in 1994.