Standing on Street Corners : A History of the Natal Midlands Region of the Black Sash.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kleinenberg, Mary.

Contributor:

Merrett, Christopher.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Women--Political activity.

Women.

Social history.

Human rights movements.

Economic history.

Women--Political activity--South Africa--Interviews.

Human rights movements--South Africa--KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.

South Africa--KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.

South Africa.

KwaZulu-Natal Midlands (South Africa)--Economic conditions.

KwaZulu-Natal Midlands (South Africa).

KwaZulu-Natal Midlands (South Africa)--Social conditions.

Black Sash (Society).

Black Sash (Society)--History.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (314 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Natal Society Foundation, 2015.

Summary:

Nelson Mandela called the Black Sash, founded in May 1955 to contest legislation that removed coloured South Africans from the common voters' roll in the Cape, the 'conscience of white South Africa'. Adopting a radical critique of the national condition, Sash maintained high-profile protest against iniquitous apartheid legislation through the darkest hours of recent South African history. It also ran advice offices that assisted those disempowered by racist legislation and used the information gathered to support its political campaigns. This book chronicles the history of the Natal Midlands branch based in Pietermaritzburg. What was the relevance and legacy of the Black Sash, the women's anti-apartheid organisation, and what did this mean to its members? This book looks specifically at the Natal Midlands (Pietermaritzburg) region and the distinctiveness of its contribution. Like other regions it supported the liberation struggle through public protest and educational campaigns aimed at exposing iniquitous apartheid legislation. In a police state this required considerable determination and courage. During the darkest hours Natal Midlands Sash kept alive hope for universal civil rights in a democratic South Africa. The Pietermaritzburg Advice Office became one of the country's busiest, specialising in old age pension and disability grant issues. Knowledge painstakingly gathered about life for black South Africans was fed back into Sash's political and information campaigns while Natal Midlands produced several significant publications. One of the smaller branches, it punched above its weight. Whether Sash was a political pressure group of women, or a women's organisation challenging patriarchy, it generated lively debate. Environmental issues were also accorded a high priority. Fifteen interviews show that involvement in Sash was a life-enhancing experience for many members who have looked back with pride and honour at their part in the anti-apartheid movement from 1955 to 1994.

Contents:

Cover

Title page

Copyright page

Dedication

Contents

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

PREFACE

FOREWORD

1. THE CONSCIENCE OF WHITE SOUTH AFRICA

2. WOMEN OF COURAGE: THE FIRST DECADE, 1955−1964

3. FINDING A FOCUS: THE SECOND DECADE, 1965−1974

4. THE YEARS OF UPRISING: THE THIRD DECADE 1975−1984

5. INTENSIFIED OPPRESSION: THE FOURTH DECADE, 1985−1994, PART 1

6. FINAL STAGES: THE FOURTH DECADE, 1985−1994, PART 2

7. SERVING THE PEOPLE: THE ADVICE OFFICE, 1975−1983

8. IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY: THE ADVICE OFFICE, 1984−1989

9. MOVING TOWARDS LIBERATION: THE ADVICE OFFICE, 1990−1994

10. CRUEL BEYOND DESCRIPTION: OLD AGE PENSIONS AND DISABILITY GRANTS

11. IN RETROSPECT: CONCLUSIONS AND OVERVIEW

APPENDIX. Members of the Natal Midlands Black Sash

INTERVIEWS AND INTERVIEWERS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX

Back cover.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Occasional Publications of the Natal Society Foundation is an imprint of the Trustees of The Natal Society Foundation.

"Nelson Mandela called the Black Sash, founded in May 1955 to contest legislation that removed coloured South Africans from the common voters' roll in the Cape, the "conscience of white South Africa." Adopting a radical critique of the national condition, Sash maintained high-profile protest against iniquitous apartheid legislation through the darkest hours of recent South African history. It also ran advice offices that assisted those disempowered by racist legislation and used the information gathered to support its political campaigns. This book chronicles the history of the Natal Midlands branch based in Pietermaritzburg"--Dust jacket flap.

ISBN:

9781991225641

1991225644

OCLC:

1303666074