Wednesday, 25 February 2009

What are some questions that I could ask in an interview with someone [not white], regarding the Separate Amenities Act during apartheid?

The previously
suggested questions are wonderful ideas that you may wish to include when interviewing someone
who experienced the indignities of apartheid. If you have not experienced systemic oppression
firsthand, one suggestion I will add is to focus on questions regarding how injustice affects a
person's spirit, as well as how past injustices can impact one's future. Historical facts about
apartheid can be obtained from a variety of sources, but if you are given the opportunity to
discuss this chilling topic with someone who has lived through the indignity, targeting its
personal effects with likely result in wisdom and insight that cannot be gained from textbooks.
Here are some suggestions for possible questions:

  • Looking back on
    this period of time, what are your clearest memories regarding injustice brought about by the
    Separate Amenities Act?
  • How did the Separate Amenities Act affect your
    everyday life, your spirit, and your plans for the future?
  • How do you think
    your life might be different now if apartheid had never been present? How has the injustice of
    that time period affected your life since then?
  • Do you think the repeal of
    the Separate Amenities Act righted the wrongs that were made during those decades, or do you
    think there is still work to be done? How can we do better?
  • How do you
    think the past history of apartheid has affected the present social and political climate in
    South Africa?
  • What wisdom did you gain while undergoing the oppression
    created by the Separate Amenities Act? What advice do you have for those who are currently
    experiencing systemic injustice?

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