The SAAC and South Africa

In February 1969, NC State hosted an International Fair in a campus student union. Forty countries were represented at the fair, including the Union of South Africa. The SAAC protested the inclusion of the South Africa booth due to their apartheid policies, and in return set up an “anti-South African” display in the student center. On this protest, a representative from the SAAC told the NC State student newspaper, the Technician, “As Afro-Americans, we feel that the racist policies practiced by the Union of South Africa, which resulted in the rejection of its membership in the United Nations…are an insult to our dignity and the dignity of the entire United States." This statement indicates that to the SAAC, who were identifying themselves as "Afro-American," it was "not American" and an affront to national dignity to support South Africa's institutionalized racial segregation. At the same time, they level a similar charge on the state of Alabama by directly comparing it to South Africa. The SAAC's definition of "American," then, is one that not only includes them, but also rejects racism against them.

Concerned over students' abilites to go to and from class in the midst of the demonstration, Governor Robert Scott issued an official statement declaring that he "would not hesitate to send in the Highway Patrol or units of the National Guard, or both, when he has reasonable grounds to believe it necessary to enforce State laws." At the same time, several students interviewed by the Technician commented on the protest; some felt positively toward the exhibit, while others reacted negatively. One anonymous student stated that he felt the protests weren't "getting anywhere" and decried the demonstrations as publicity stunts by the SAAC. Amit Thacker, a graduate student from India, noted that only black students were taking part in the presentation, and that there were not any "non-black student organizations" involved.

The protest lasted throughout the length of the fair. Ultimately, the South Africa booth remained in operation.

Visit other Exhibits in Crossing the Color Line.