Crossing the racial divide: the 1946 Rhodes University versus Fort Hare University athletics meeting
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Date
2017
Authors
Labuschagne, P. A. H.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Humanities, University of the Free State
Abstract
In the annals of South Africa’s sporting history, the intervarsity
athletics meeting between Rhodes University and the University of
Fort Hare that took place in 1946 is not well-known. This encounter
between two neighbouring universities is unique for a number of
reasons: not only was it the first reported athletics meeting at club
level between two universities in the Eastern Cape, it was also the
first time in South Africa that different race groups competed at club
level. The meeting flouted the government’s policies at that time,
as well as its stated position on the segregation of the different
race groups. In the article the broad background of segregation in
South Africa is outlined, with a description of how clubs developed
in keeping with segregationist policies. The historic meeting between
the universities of Rhodes and Fort Hare is the focus of the second
part of the discussion, which demonstrates how athletics officials at
Rhodes were prepared to challenge national policies in an attempt to
further racial harmony. The historic athletics meeting between the two
universities was a brave effort to normalise society and reflected an
enlightened approach to the prevailing segregationist policies being
imposed on all levels of society.
Description
Keywords
Athletics, Fort Hare University, Racial hemegony, Rhodes University, Segregation
Citation
Labuschagne, P. A. H. (2017). Crossing the racial divide: the 1946 Rhodes University versus Fort Hare University athletics meeting. Journal for Contemporary History, 42(2), 127-142.