PRESSURING AMERICA:
Putting the U.S. in the hot spot
"if you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people being oppressed and loving the people who are oppressing."
-malcolm x
The news of this internal struggle against apartheid in South Africa had grown into a worldwide issue on racial equality and human rights. Oliver Tambo’s mission abroad brought him to the U.S. to petition the U.S. government to impose sanctions on South Africa. However, it was rejected by U.S. President Ronald Reagan who denounced the ANC as a terrorist organization during a debate in sanctions in July, 1987. The U.S. believed Oliver Tambo and the ANC were a communist group due reports they received from the South African government.
Oliver Tambo meeting with U.S.Secretary of State George Shultz after the ANC was denounced as a terrorist organization. Their meeting however, showed the U.S.'s willingness to recognize the ANC as a major player in the conflict.
This is an image of Oliver Tambo giving a speech during his international mission abroad. He is addressing the need for the world to take part in this fight against apartheid.
|
The next day however, after the debate, U.S.Secretary of State George Shultz agreed to meet with Tambo. Showing the U.S. governments willingness to recognize Tambo and his organization as a major player in this conflict. Shultz told the press there was “a large area of agreement on the nature of the apartheid system, on the need to abolish it”. However the administration policy of “constructive engagement” which attempts to exert quiet pressure on the Pretoria government is not helpful.
Tambo also visited Georgetown University, in Washington D.C. giving a speech on the necessity for the ANC to take up arms against apartheid as the South African government's violence and brutality increased. In his speech at Georgetown University he said, "We believe that the world, too, can destroy apartheid, firstly by striking at the economy of South Africa." In his speech, Tambo is discussing the need for America to pose economic sanctions on South Africa to hurt the South African economy. By hurting the South African economy they are putting strain on the South African government and thus hurting apartheid. Tambo also gave speeches to United Nations expressing the need for countries to make sanctions and to put pressure on the U.S. to pose sanctions. After the U.S. became aware of the brutality of the South African government in the Soweto uprisings and the international pressure they received from other countries the U.S. eventually posed sanctions on South Africa. Tambo’s mission was crucial in getting the ANC to be recognized by the U.S. as well as applying international pressure on the U.S. to pose sanctions. His meeting with the Secretary of State allowing the ANC to be recognized by the U.S. a party of this struggle in South Africa thus further establishing the ANC’s legitimacy. He visited universities such as Georgetown to explain his cause to college students, whom are much more susceptible to persuasion in supporting causes such the ANC's against apartheid. This lead to the posing of academic sanctions against South Africa and also creates more international negativity and attention on apartheid. |