Mandela's Fading Legacy

Laura Liu

Ms. Tompkins

World Literature Honors

March 13, 2015

Mandela’s Fading Legacy

Around two years ago, a precious blue diamond was discovered in South Africa’s Cullinan Diamond Mine. Immediately, the flawless gem was auctioned off for nine million dollars (Kielburger). Yet, with a flourishing mining industry, why is the black population of South Africa still in deep poverty?

During Nelson Mandela’s presidency, he made many reforms to South Africa’s politics in hope of ridding the country of apartheid once and for all. Although the country experienced great progress, and blacks and whites are considered equals according to the law, the aftermath of apartheid is inevitable and still plagues the native Africans with immense consequences. In a country full of underground riches, 47% of the population live under the poverty line, natives being the majority (Vanderbilt). Essentially, the unwritten racial inequality in South Africa induces income inequality between the races, which not only puts blacks in poverty, but also makes it difficult for them to overcome poverty.

Racial inequality in South Africa create an income inequality between the blacks and whites, forcing blacks under the poverty line. Despite Mandela’s attempt to diminish apartheid, South Africa still possesses a white-dominant society. The Economist Intelligence Unit, an article in Global Issues in Context, confirms that, “Whites still control most of the capital in the country...”, in turn, “...widening income gap between the black and white populations” (Economist). Since the white South Africans are still dominating the economy, they are able to obtain higher paying occupations while the blacks are left with low wage jobs, which creates income inequality between the two races. In fact, this inequality is extremely severe; Michael Brown II of Stanford University reports that the wage difference between the blacks and whites is 40%, making South Africa one of the most unequal in the world (Brown II). All revenue that South Africa receives from its elaborate mining business falls into the hands of the educated white South Africans (Kielburger). Hence, in this economic system, the black South Africans still do not profit from the treasures of their own land, despite Mandela’s goals. Furthermore, The Telegraph quotes President Jacob Zuma emphasizing that “...at the bottom of the rung is the black majority who continue to be confronted by deep poverty” (Liang). Being separated from the whites by the wealth gap, they are being put in poverty, as all the wealth is being hoarded by the whites. Evidently, income inequality, induced by racial differences, leaves the black population struggling in poverty.

Furthermore, income inequality prevents the blacks from rising out of poverty, permanently stranding them under the poverty line. Vanderbilt University cites the World Bank explaining that, “Inequality limits economic upward mobility, as those children in the lower income brackets are forced to work rather than go to school. It is impossible for further development to occur in such bifurcated societies” (Vanderbilt). Blacks who live under the poverty line due to low wages induced by the wealth gap cannot afford sending their children to school. Instead, they need their children to work in order to support the family. Unable to obtain sufficient education, these children are bound to low wage jobs for the rest of their lives since higher wage occupations require high levels of education. Yet, even for the minority of blacks in poverty who do manage to attend school, they still are unable to break from the perpetuating cycle of poverty. The Economist reported that the blacks continue to attend schools that are inferior to the ones that whites attend. Therefore, whites always outperform them in terms of scoring (Economist). As long as they are academically inferior to whites, black South Africans will not be able to narrow the income gap between the two races and progress financially. The problematic issue arises that once blacks are put into this cycle of poverty, they do not have access to resources that will help them rise out of it.  

It is a tragedy that Mandela’s achievements are not brought about to their fullest potential in modern South Africa. Apartheid’s shadow still hovers over many. Despite racial equality granted by the law, their access to resources allows the majority of whites to maintain superiority from an economic and financial standpoint, as they are the ones running the wealthy industries. The income gap between the two races not only forces blacks into poverty, but also makes it extremely arduous for them to break free from it.

Works Cited: Mandela’s Fading Legacy

Brown, Michael, II. "Social Inequality in South Africa: At What Price?" Stanford University. Stanford University, 19 Sept. 2014. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.
"Income Inequality in South Africa." Vanderbilt University. Vanderbilt University, 9 Sept. 2013. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.
Kielburger, Marc, and Craig Kielburger. "Why South Africa Is Still Dealing With Segregation and Poverty." The Huffington Post. The Huffington Post, 18 Dec. 2013. Web. 7 Mar. 2015.
Laing, Aislinn. "South Africa's Whites Still Paid Six times More than Blacks." The Telegraph. The Telegraph, 30 Oct. 2012. Web. 9 Mar. 2015.
"Last in Class." The Economist. The Economist Newspaper, 05 June 2010. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.
"South Africa: Economic Background." Economist Intelligence Unit. Global Issues in Context, 28 Aug. 2006. Web. 7 Mar. 2015.