Dbq On African Americans

1. In support of relinquishing British colonial rule, Clement Davies stated the British objectives, which were two-fold had set the stage for “the old order [to] changeth, yielding place to new.” He went on to say “we have taught the peoples the rule of law and the value of justice, impartially administered.” Though not without “mistakes we will admit”, this included “the betterment of the conditions of the people and the improvement of their standard of life”, as well as having taught them “the ways of good administration…and to undertake responsibility”, so they could “manage the burden of their own government.” Although, still low, “the standard of life…[had] improved” and relinquishing British rule was not intended to “damp the hopes
He believed that Government policy had created an atmosphere in which “violence by the African people had become inevitable” and that “unless reasonable leadership was given…to control the feelings of [the]people”, “there would be outbreaks of terrorism which would produce…hostility between the various races.” No other way was open to the African people, to fight “in their struggle against the principle of White Supremacy.” He refused to acknowledge the decree that the ANC was an “unlawful organization” and said the acceptance of such a decree would be “equivalent to accepting the silencing of the Africans for all time”. Mandela was not a violent man and did not resort to violence lightly, but it seemed to be the only way to accomplish the ANC’s goals, as “all lawful modes of expressing opposition to this principle had been closed by legislation.” Mandela did not want an “international war and tried to avoid it to the last minute”, but also stated that his ideals were “worth dying for”. It was degrading for the African people to be thought of as a “separate breed” and “the fight against poverty and lack of human dignity” “was real and not imaginary.” To say differently was demeaning. The enforcement of apartheid lead to terrible conditions for blacks and “to a breakdown in moral standards” resulting in “growing violence.” Mandela and the ANC leaders were attracted to communism for the simple fact that “for decades [the] communists were the only political group in South Africa who were prepared to treat Africans and human beings and their