Saul Dubow: Racial Segregation and the Origins of Apartheid in South Africa 1919-1936

P.21

 Dubow outlines historiographical position on apartheid

o Marian Lacey/Richard Parry- see origins of segregation in Rhodes’ 1894 Glen Grey

Act

o Suggestions that British experiences in cape e.g. in Basutoland provides early model

for segregation

o During post-WW2 period there was a liberal focus on segregation’s roots in the

“frontier tradition” and being associated with the outlook of the Boer republics

 David Welsh- claims the origins of segregation are in “Shepstonian policies” of Natal

o Theophilus Shepstone- director of native policy in Natal

 Shula Marks- argues segregation was a means for colonial state to deal with powerful existing

African kingdoms

o Argues segregation comes from complicated struggles between colonial powers and

African chiefdoms

P.22

 Dubow argues that first system of segregation was implemented by English rather than

Afrikaners

 PM Hertzog responsible for 1936 Native Bills – white supremacist beliefs behind his support

of segregation rather Afrikaner views

 Afrikaner Broederbond (Afrikaner Brotherhood) only focuses on “Native question” in the

1930s, before this focused primarily on anglo-afrikaner relations

P.23/P.24

 J Howard Pim- argues in 1905 at meeting of British Association that Africans should stay in

separate reserves rather than in industrial areas

 o Pim argues that it would be easier to control the African population on matters such

as healthcare and crime if they were grouped together in “their own tribal system”

 Dubow argues Pim primarily concerned about maintining social discipline rather than for

cheap labour

 1904- Pim drafts “A Note on Native Policy”- argues that both black and white communities

would benefit from separation

o Pim primarily suggests this for white self-preservation in an attempt to control the

black population: “Prevent our simply turning him (Africans) loose in the country…

he will rapidly relapse into barbarism…he will be a source of endless trouble and

difficulty to his white neighbours”

P.25

 Pim references social Darwinism and environmental theory heavily

o Makes reference to “mental and moral differences”

o Suggests Africans lack intelligence of whites or understanding of nuanced thought

o Argues Africans would become morally degenerate by living in urban areas and

would be dangerous for whites

 Pim changes viewpoint on segregation as he grows older – Dubow argues this to be resultant

from his quaker influences

o Pim rejects industrial colour bar- segregation in industry

o Pim later critical of segregation – abandons eugenicist approach and establishes

reputation as philanthropist

 Dubow argues Pim’s approach represented a moderate position between total separation of

races and allowing Africans into white urban areas – and also a viewpoint that it was wrong to

see segregation as purely benefitting whites

 o Dubow argues that only by understanding that Pim was not solely a proponent of

segregation to advance whites but rather saw it as mutually beneficial that we can

understand his later liberal shift on segregation matters

P.26

 First major mainstream proponent of segregation in historical literature: Maurice Evans’

Black and White in South East Africa (1911)

o Widely circulated in political circles

o Evans argues that segregation was the culmination and melding of the different SA

regions’ approach to the native question

 Evans outlines 3 principles necessary for governing natives

o 1) White Man most govern

o 2) Parliament must devolve power to especially qualified individuals

o 3) Main policy must be separation of races as much as possible to “prevent race

deterioration, to preserve race integrity”

P.27

 Evans similarly influenced by eugenicist views

o Warns against miscegenation and inter-racial contact in urban/industrial areas

 Evans argues that whites must give up substantial land areas to enforce segregation and allow

it to be possible

o Evans sees segregation as incompatible with capitalist greed – he argues that it would

not be beneficial in the long term to rely on cheap African labour

 Calls this reliance on African labour: “A policy likely to be fraught with evil

for both races”

 Charles Templeman Loram The Education of the South African Native (1917)

o Loram concerned by native question similarly- relies on “scientific fashion” to solve

this
 o Loram’s eugenic views extend to him conducting his own intelligence tests on

Africans in Natal

P.28

 Loram similar to Evans in how he criticises apathy toward issue of natives

o Argues that only when faced by crisis e.g. labour problems, rebellion or economic

competition did the white man do anything

 Loram outlines 3 racial schools of thought on segregation

o Repressionists

 See Africans as inferior – only fit for manual labour

o Equalists

 European missionaries/philanthropists – base arguments on “common

humanity” – supported equality for blacks and whites

o Segregationists

 Loram supports this school of thought -rejects above as too extreme in both

ways

 Loram argues that Africans should be allowed to develop themselves while

recognising that segregation was impractical in a country that relied on black

labour

 Edgar Brookes History of Native Policy in South Africa (1924)

o Similarly sees segregation as the necessary middle ground between “identity and

subordination”

P.29

 Brookes dismisses complete segregation on the idea that native African labour would be

necessary for the economy

o However echoes idea that Africans were morally unsuited to industrial life

 Dubow argues that Brookes= example of “liberal minded practical paternalism”

 o Brookes sees natural place of Africans = on the land – sees racial intermarriage as

horrifying

o However Brookes also opposed to colour bar- sees duty of whites to civilise Africans

not just control them

P.30

 Doctrine of Eugenics prevalent in Britain and US by beginning of 20 th century- under school

of thought of Francis Galton

o Theory that need to control gene pools would lead to social and political success

 South Africa- this was also important

 Russell Martin has argued how after wars of late 19 th century South African officials were

sceptical of “civilising mission” objective

P.31

 Dubow argues that social Darwinism was deep seated in many areas of political debate

o Arguments on intelligence difference of whites and blacks

o Miscegenation

o “racial degradation” if blacks and whites allowed to co-exist in urban areas and form

proletariat

 Dubow argues many saw Africans as part of land similarly to animals – argued that the urban

sphere would lead to vice and immorality that would lead to their moral and mental decay

 Miscegenation- held as worst possible scenario

o Eugenicists like Ernest Stubbs/George Heaton Nicholls

o Also Maurice Evans argues that the worst possible outcome for white race would be

mixing of white and black blood

P.32

 Hertzog himself worries about miscegenation- argues that giving black Africans political

rights would “swamp” the white establishment

 Liberal thinkers e.g. JD Rheinallt Jones, CT Loram, Alfred Hoernle

o All address this issue of intelligence of the races

 AR Radcliffe-Brown: Professor of social anthropology at University of Cape Town – thought

it likely for physiological differences between whites/blacks but not enough to make much

difference

P.33

 South African liberalism – emerges due to the transition to an industrial economy by the start

of the 20th century

 Growth of slums/emergence of radicalism amongst the working class – leads to this

P.34

 Anthropology in SA became prevalent during 1920s

o 1921: AR Radcliffe Brown- appointed to chair of social anthropology at

UniOCapeTown

o Anthropology seen as important part of understanding native question

P.35

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P.37

P.38

P.39
  Edward Barrett secretary of native affairs – Report of the Native Affairs Departament for the

Years 1919-1921

o Argues that events since ending of ww1 had seen mental development of Africans

that allowed them to understand European methods and a growing discontent in cities

over wages etc.

o Barrett makes reference to increase in communist thought amongst black Africans

P.40

 1920s- increase in black radicalism in political sphere

o Various groups important – rural populism/Africanist approaches/working class

militant activity

o Economic origins in declining agricultural productivity, development of capitalist

agriculture, proletarianism growth

 Post WW1 segregation

o Dubow argues that segregationist narrative was disrupted by WW1 aftermath

o 1919: CLR Harries (Sub-Native commissioner of Sibasa in Northern Transvaal)-

states that Africans “awakened” by effects of ww1 – emphasised political and

economic changes resultant from the war

P.41

 Economic histories of south Africa have similarly pointed to black radicalism in the post

WW1 period as a contributing factor

o Philip Bonner- study of effect of class dynamics of black south Africans on Rand

between 1917-1922

 Bonner draws attention to radicalism amongst black population and black

leadership amongst the Transvaal national Congress

 Other historians have focused on rural militarism

o Helen Bradford analysis of Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU)

p.42

 Some have linked black nationalist movements in the US with South Africa

o Pirio/Hill have seen Marcus Garvey as impactful on south Africa during the post-

ww1 period

o Argument that Garvey’s rhetoric of granting power to black Africans in Africa

resonated amongst urban and rural black populations

 Reshifting of communist party to align with views of African nationalism

o South African Communist Party (SACP) formed 1921, early years focuses on white

working classes

o 1928 – policy of “Native Republic” adopted- recognition that black working class and

rural black peasantry would be primary drivers of revolution

 SACP aligns itself with black nationalist movements such as the ANC/ICU

P.43

P.44

 Contrasting viewpoints on segregation between Hertzog and Smuts during the 1920s

o Hertzog reluctant during 1920s to firmly come down in support or opposition to

segregation

o Smuts segregation claims derivation from 1894 Glen Gray Act, notions of “parallel

institutions”

 Focuses on representing a more moderate form of segregation – 1920 Native

Affairs Act (which gave indirect black political representation) – held as the

basis of a moderate compromising segregation

P.45

 1923 Urban areas act – example of liberal and conservative approaches to segregation coming

together
 o Sought to mix labour control with “protecting” black Africans

 By start of 1920s major policital parties (white) had accepted segregation – arguments around

segregation were more about details and specifics rather than actually being about the merits

of a segregated society

P.46

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P.40