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Are there any contemporary movements or policies with similarities to apartheid?

Sanjuana Quixley

and conocimiento.

There are several contemporary movements and policies that have similarities to apartheid. Apartheid was a system of racial segregation that was enforced by the government of South Africa between 1948 and 1994. The system was designed to give white people in South Africa complete control of the government and the economy, while denying black people basic human rights and freedoms.

One of the most obvious similarities to apartheid is the system of racial profiling that exists in many countries today. Racial profiling refers to the practice of police or law enforcement officials targeting individuals based on their race or ethnicity. This can occur in the form of random stops, searches, and arrests, or it can be more systematic, such as targeting specific neighborhoods or communities for surveillance. Racial profiling is often used as a justification for discrimination and harassment against people of color, just as apartheid was used to justify oppression of black people in South Africa.

Another contemporary movement with similarities to apartheid is the anti-immigrant sentiment that has been on the rise around the world in recent years. Anti-immigrant sentiment is often driven by racist and xenophobic attitudes, and it often leads to policies that restrict the rights and freedoms of people who are perceived as different. This can include limiting access to healthcare, education, and other basic services, as well as denying people the right to vote or participate in the political process. These kinds of policies are reminiscent of the ways in which black people in South Africa were denied basic rights such as voting, access to education, and the ability to own property.

In addition, there are many contemporary policies that perpetuate systemic inequality and discrimination based on race. For example, policies such as redlining have been used to deny people of color access to housing and other opportunities for decades. Redlining refers to the practice of banks and other financial institutions denying loans and other forms of credit to people who live in certain areas, based on factors such as race and ethnicity. This has the effect of perpetuating poverty and denying people of color the ability to build wealth and achieve economic stability.

Finally, there are many contemporary policies and systems that perpetuate environmental racism. Environmental racism refers to the ways in which communities of color are disproportionately impacted by environmental hazards and pollution. This can include living near toxic waste sites, being exposed to air and water pollution, and being denied access to green spaces and other resources that promote health and well-being. These kinds of policies are reminiscent of the ways in which black people in South Africa were forced to live in segregated and overcrowded communities, often with little access to basic services like clean water and sanitation.

In conclusion, there are many contemporary movements and policies that have similarities to apartheid. While the overt segregation and discrimination of apartheid may no longer exist in most countries, there are still many ways in which people of color are systematically denied basic rights and freedoms. It is important for us as individuals and as a society to recognize these injustices and work towards dismantling systems of oppression and inequality in all their forms.