Final answer:
Apartheid was a legally enforced system of racial segregation in South Africa that classified the population into racial groups, leading to forced separations and systemic oppression of the black majority. It extended to nearly every part of society and maintained white supremacy until its dismantling began in the 1990s, spurred by both domestic and international opposition.
Step-by-step explanation:
Apartheid in South Africa
Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial segregation that existed in South Africa from 1948 until the early 1990s. Under apartheid, the South African population was classified into four racial categories: black, white, colored (mixed race), and Indian/Asian. The government sanctioned separate homelands and people were forcibly removed based on these classifications. This system extended into all facets of society, including separate educational and healthcare systems, and public amenities.
The South African government of F. W. De Klerk eventually began the process of dismantling apartheid, with significant figures such as Nelson Mandela leading the opposition, which included organized groups like the African National Congress (ANC). Despite severe oppression, violence, and social unrest, the fight against apartheid gained momentum, both domestically and through international condemnation. The policy was characterized by control of the black majority by the white minority, establishing and maintaining white supremacy.
The end of apartheid did not immediately overcome the decades of segregation and inequality. The system had deeply embedded racial barriers in South African society, affecting cultural aspects such as education, where indigenous musical arts, languages, and practices were marginalized in favor of promoting a white superiority narrative.