10/18-idea-apartheid, coloured

Pronunciation: \ə-ˈpär-ˌtāt, -ˌtīt\

Function: noun

Etymology: Afrikaans, from apart apart + -heid -hood

Date: 1947

1 : racial segregation; specifically : a former policy of segregation and political and economic discrimination against non-European groups in the Republic of South Africa
2 : separation, segregation

"Derived from the Afrikaans word for "apartness," apartheid is a term that came into usage in the 1930s and signified the political policy under which the races in South Africa were subject to "separate development." For the purpose of implementing these policies, apartheid recognized four races: Bantu, or black African; Coloured, or mixed race; white, and Asian. Apartheid met with both international condemnation and spurred a resistance movement among black South Africans. Apartheid was defined as a crime in 2002 by the International Criminal Court; the United Nations had declared it a crime against humanity in 1973, though many nations still not have signed on to the convention." About.com

Photo of Cape coloured children in Bonteheuwel township (Cape Town, South Africa) by Henry Trotter in 2000.

The Afrikaans word for "apartness" is Afsonderlik....meaning apart, seperate, isolated, particular. Berni Searle's work got me interested in the idea of Apartheid and being coloured. I suppose that is what I would be in their culture. To be colored in America can mean many different things though. To be "colored" is to be black. A person of color can be anyone that isnt "white". So many interesting terms for something as natural as cross-racial "breeding". A nice historical addition to my search about biraciality.