July's People Lesson Plan

What is the historical context in South Africa at the time July’s People begins?

South Africa had been segregated under apartheid, and the colonial laws that preceded the formal system, for a long time. White people were the ruling class and instituted legal policies that segregated and oppressed anyone who was not white. Then, the underclass (black people, primarily) in South Africa rose up in resistance to these policies. As the text says, “Riots, arson, occupation of the headquarters of international corporations, bombs in public buildings—the censorship of newspapers, radio, and television left rumour and word-of-mouth as the only sources of information about this...