Originally published in 1976, this book is a sociological and historical study of class and race relations in a crucial sector of South Africa – the gold mining industry, during and following the First World War. The author develops a Marxist structuralist explanation of the system of racial discrimination, and then goes in to examine the significant historical events of this formative period, notably those surrounding the strike and uprising of the white workers in 1922. The book explains a system of racial domination essentially in terms of the class positions and problems of the dominating groups, and examines historical developments concerning race in terms of class.
Author(s): Frederick A. Johnstone
Series: Routledge Library Editions: South Africa
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 314
City: London
Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Original Title Page
Original Copyright Page
Dedication
Table of Contents
List of Tables
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Introduction
Part One: Class Structure, Class Interests and Racial Discrimination
1 The System of Racial Discrimination as a Product of the Class Structure and as a System of Class Instruments: Class Colour Bars
(A) The Mining Companies and the System of Racial Discrimination
1. The Class Position of the Mining Companies
2. The Class Colour Bars of the Mining Companies: The Exploitation Colour Bars
(B) The White Workers and the System of Racial Discrimination
1. The Class Position of the White Workers
2. The Class Colour Bars of the White Workers: The Employment Colour Bars
2 The System of Racial Discrimination as a Projection and Mediation of Class Contradictions
Summary of Part One
Part Two: Class Relations, Class Conflict and Racial Discrimination
3 Class Colour Bars and Class Conflict: The Mining Companies and the White Workers
1. The Post-War Profitability Crisis
2. The Offensive of the Mining Companies Against the White Workers
3. The Counter-Attack of the White Workers
4 Class Colour Bars and Class Conflict: The African Workers
1. Unrest, Conflict and Repression
2. The African Workers and the Class Colour Bars: Structural Grievances
Summary of Part Two
Conclusions
Notes
Bibliography
Index
