Thursday, February 14, 2013

Punk Rock vs. Apartheid in South Africa

Think this was the second demonstration I ever attended. Apartheid (State-sanctioned racial separatism) in South Africa was an issue of international concern. As the U.N. is based in NYC there were many demonstrations held there in support of the A.N.C., Nelson Mandela and the freedom struggle.

This was also an issue that was widely taken up by the punk scene. I didn't meet many people, other than openly Nazi skinheads, that liked Apartheid.

Here's my friend Bejay at a Punks Picnic in Central Park Oct 1988. He's wearing a 'Free South Africa' shirt (photo by Sam Moon, I believe). That design use to be available at demonstrations. More widely popular was artist Keith Haring's 'Free South Africa' design.
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4 comments:

  1. Sharon DMarch 11, 2013 at 6:41 AM

    I was a punk in apartheid South Africa in Johannesburg and for a brief time Durban, I had a few 'black' punk friends. It was a weird time as we were few in such a conservative country at the time and despite the skinhead Nazi attitude,many lived in the same block of flats in Johannesburg CBD and were friends

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    Replies
    1. AnonymousMay 17, 2021 at 10:10 AM

      Sharon,
      I am currently working on a book chapter over the history of punk in South Africa and the interracial engagement in punk spaces. I just came across this comment and know it's a long shot, but I was wondering if you'd be interested in telling me more about your experience in the punk scene during apartheid?

      Thank you,
      Amber

      Delete
  2. Signs of Life NYCMarch 19, 2013 at 1:04 AM

    Nice story, Sharon. Did you ever hear of a band from South Africa called "Power Age"? That's the only punk band I remember hearing about back in the day.

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