“Master Harold…and the boys” by Athol Fugard Social/Political Context Notes

Apartheid Social and political policy of racial segregation and discrimination enforced by white minority governments in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. With the enactment of apartheid laws in 1948, racial discrimination was institutionalized.

Here are a few examples of apartheid laws: Black Africans were restricted by law from: Owning land (the white minority controlled over 80 percent of South African land) Having interracial social contacts (marriage, business, etc.) Sharing public facilities with white South Africans Holding jobs allotted to whites Participating in the government Moving about freely: countrywide curfews were enforced (no black African was permitted to be outside after dark without a special permit) and limitations were set as to where they could travel