Archive Photos used in fight Against Apartheids and liberation of black south-Africans

1967


Organization in Solidarity With the
People of Africa, Asia and Latin
America. From the personal archive
of Lincoln Cushing.
In November 1962, the General
Assembly called upon members of
the United Nations to impose
economic sanctions on South
Africa because of its policy of
racial segregation.


1968



Organization in Solidarity With the
People of Asia, Africa and Latin
America, by Berta Abelenda. From
the personal archive of Lincoln
Cushing.
Although the United States had
condemned the apartheid in the
1960s, it would take nearly two
decades for the American
government to impose strict
sanctions.
1970


This poster was from a campaign
by the British Anti-Apartheid
Movement. The organization
forced the cancellation of a 1970
tour of Britain by the all-white
South African cricket team.

1977


The illustration is an homage to
Hector Petersen, a student killed
during the uprising in the Soweto
township of Johannesburg (photo).
In June 1976, students rose up
against the government’s decision
to enforce education in Afrikaans.
More than 570 people were killed
in the months of violence that
followed. The uprising was a
turning point for the resistance.

1979


This poster, titled “Total Economic
and Military Boycott of South
Africa,” was designed for the
Dutch Anti-Apartheid Movement.
It shows several Dutch companies
that were then doing business
with South Africa and was part of
a campaign calling for a boycott

1980


In March 1980, South Africa’s
Sunday Post newspaper published
a petition for the release of Nelson
Mandela. The British Anti-
Apartheid Movement produced a
campaign in support, which was
endorsed by trade unions, artists,
academics and many members of
the British Parliament.

1980



This poster was created for a rally
commemorating the 25th
anniversary of the Freedom
Charter, a statement by the South
African Congress Alliance, an
association of groups opposed to
apartheid. The charter called for
equal rights for all races in South
Africa.

1981



This poster was part of a
campaign for a bill requiring
Massachusetts pension funds to
sell stocks and bonds in companies
doing business in South Africa.
The bill passed in 1982. Several
other American states and cities
passed similar legislation.

1981


During the 1970s and 1980s,
many North American groups
campaigned in support of national
liberation movements in Africa.
This poster was created for the
Liberation Support Movement,
which was founded in Vancouver,
British Columbia, and had
branches in California and New
York.
1982


In the early 1980s, local groups
worked to explain apartheid to the
American public. This poster was
created for a two-part forum on
South Africa and apartheid, held
at a high school in Grand Rapids,
Mich.

1984


In the mid-1980s, a campaign to
impose economic sanctions on
South Africa gained support
among American politicians and
artists, like the actor Danny
Glover, who is featured in this
poster.

1988


A concert by the British Anti-
Apartheid Movement brought
72,000 people to London’s
Wembley Stadium in June 1988, as
part of the “Nelson Mandela:
Freedom at 70” campaign. Stevie
Wonder, Whitney Houston and
Sting were among the performers.
The concert was broadcast to 60
countries.

1990


This poster celebrated Mr.
Mandela’s release from prison in
February 1990 and called for the
release of other South African
political prisoners. Mr. Mandela
visited Britain in April and spoke
at a concert at Wembley Stadium.

1990


In June 1990, Mr. Mandela
embarked on an eight-city
American tour. A crowd of 58,000
people attended his appearance in
Oakland, Calif.

1994


This button is from the 1994 South
African presidential campaign, the
first democratic non-apartheid
elections in the country.