Nelson Mandela and Apartheid

Racial-segregation policy of the government of South Africa from 1948 to 1994. Under the apartheid system, nonwhites-classified as Bantu colored , or Indian-did not share full rights of citizenship with the white minority. In the wake of these violent acts of repression international pressure for the overturning of South Africa's racial policies grew, and in October 1989 President de Klerk permitted antiapartheid demonstrations. When Nelson Mandela walked out of prison on Feb. 11, 1990, South Africa's future walked with him. A lesser man would have felt justified in calling for a violent upheaval to bring down the white supremacist government.