Essay on Criminally Colored - 1234 Words

Gray can pass as black or white; this statement does not make logical sense to anyone who knows the color spectrum. So why would it make sense that someone of mixed-race could pass as either white or black in apartheid South Africa. During apartheid, South Africa was divided into three racial classes: White, Colored, and Black. Furthermore, the determination of class was based purely on physical characteristics and assigned by government administration. Some argue that it was actually an advantage for people to be of mixed-race, or colored, in South Africa so that they could enjoy the freedom of any racial class and pass in any situation. However, this stance does not take into account the reality faced by Colored individuals. In†¦show more content†¦This is one of the textual supports in â€Å"You Can’t Get Lost in Cape Town† that demonstrates being of colored did not allow Sally to pass in any situation. Later in the short story, there is another episode that also shows that despite being colored did not allow Sally to pass any situation. â€Å"I am anxious about meeting Michael. We have planned this so carefully for the rush hour when people storming home crossly will not notice us together in the crush;† this quote demonstrates the strategic planning that Sally and Michael must do in order to even be seen together in public (Wicomb 397). If being Coloured meant that Sally could pass with Whites or Blacks, she would not need to take such measures to simply meet with Michael at the local post office. These two situations clearly disprove that because of the racial designation colored folks could pass with any racial class. Ms. Wicomb also supports the disadvantage of being colored using the Mixed Marriage Act of 1949 in various ways in the text to show the limits imposed by the racial barrier. The Mixed Marriage Act of 1949 was the first major apartheid legislation passed in South Africa. The term mixed marriage referred to any union between â€Å"Whites and any other racial group† (South African History Online). Ms. Wicomb demonstrates the reality of the mixed marriage act when Michael and Sally face an unplanned pregnancy. Michael reacts by saying â€Å"he grinned madly and said, â€Å"We must marry† (WicombShow MoreRelatedPlessy v. Ferguson Essay766 Words   |  4 Pagesimprisoned. With the help of police officers they hurried him off the train and took him immediately to the county Parishs office. In New Orleans there held to answer a charge made by such officer the effect that he was guilty of having criminally violating an act of the general assembly of the state, approved on July 10,1890, in such case made and provided. 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