Black and White in South Africa

Black and White in South Africa

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| 29 min
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This 1957 documentary short offers an analysis of South Africa's acute race problem, an issue that causes dissension not only within its borders but within the Commonwealth and beyond. In South Africa, a country of 14 million people, 4 out of 5 people are black. The film gives a dispassionate appraisal of the motivations behind the policy of apartheid and of whether the practice of segregation provides a satisfactory, long-term solution.

This film contains scenes of nudity and/or sexuality. Viewer discretion is advised.

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Black and White in South Africa, John Howe & Ronald Dick, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

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Credits
  • director
    John Howe
    Ronald Dick
  • producer
    Ronald Dick
  • executive producer
    Nicholas Balla
  • script
    Ronald Dick
    William Weintraub
  • sound
    George Croll
    Ron Alexander
  • editing
    Douglas Tunstell
    Nicholas Balla
    Ronald Dick
    Marion Meadows
    Jean Roy
  • narrator
    Edgar McInnis
  • music
    Maurice Blackburn
    Robert Fleming
    Eldon Rathburn
    Norman Bigras
 See also
Developing Countries
Politics and Government
Social Issues
All subjects
NFB Abroad: Africa On Screen
All channels
Add a new comment
  • Biff Harrelson

    One of the basic tenets of communism (or deep socialism) is egalitarianism. That means any attempt to improve one's lot in life is futile. It isn't what you are - it's who you are. Both the Bantu and the Dutch played that game right from the start. So communism (the fear he relates at the end - typical of 1956) in effect already existed there. The Bantu were too satisfied to mine diamonds for peanuts for far too long, and the Dutch were there strictly for business. Nobody seemed to question it - nobody got any answers. Of course now we know the outcome of this process. Serves nobody, today diamonds or not! SA is now a horrible place unliveable for all - and heck, synthetic diamonds today are not distinguishable from the real thing. Bad story with a bad ending.

    Biff Harrelson, 7 May 2020

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