Uncovering Louisville's Anti-Apartheid History: A Journey Through Time

July 3, 2024

By Stephanie Godward, Communications and Marketing Director, College of Arts & Sciences

The Anne Braden Institute for Social Justice Research at the College of Arts & Sciences is embarking on a profound exploration into Louisville's role in the global anti-apartheid movement of the 1970s and 1980s.

This ambitious project, led by a passionate team of faculty and student researchers, seeks to illuminate the city’s significant yet often overlooked contributions to the fight against apartheid, particularly highlighting the University of Louisville’s pioneering decision to divest from South Africa in 1985. The research will culminate in an exhibit at the Anne Braden Institute in the coming academic year.

Emma Posey, a rising UofL sophomore double majoring in Political Science and Pan-African Studies, discovered the project through a class taught by Tyler Fleming, Associate Professor of Pan-African Studies and History. Emma’s participation is funded through the Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP), an intensive 10-week research experience for undergraduates that provides them with a stipend of $3,500.  As an MLK scholar, she is deeply committed to social justice.

“It is important for me to keep social justice at the root of everything I do,” Posey said. “I think it is my personal responsibility, as someone who is here on a social-justice based scholarship, to draw attention to things that matter to research and to focus my time on things I am not as familiar with. Because I think for so long, I’ve been so committed to things that personally affect me. In high school I was focused on the Black Lives Matter movement because that impacted me and my family. I want to examine other issues – and I feel I need to educate myself and look at how students matter throughout social movements in history.”

ABI offers research opportunities to students from other universities as well. Norah Laughter, a junior at Yale University majoring in American Studies, is from Russellville, KY and a member of the research team this summer. Her studies focus on social movements in the latter half of the 20th century, and she plans to create a thesis focused on Kentucky.

Norah’s current archival work around anti-apartheid movements reveal a rich tapestry of solidarity, with numerous organizations and coalitions playing pivotal roles across the UofL campus, the Louisville community, and the globe.

"Social movements rely on coalitions across the community. The archives talk about 20 different organizations across Louisville and the globe engaging in anti-apartheid activism," she noted, underscoring the interconnectedness of local and global efforts. “I really care about the stories of people in KY who are not the ones who are going to make it to the national news. With the university being one of the first to divest from South Africa from the South, I think that is important and it deserves very particular attention from students, community members and academics. I also think that given the way student activism is under scrutiny right now, it is really important to examine how in the past students have mobilized and organized.”

Angela Storey, director of ABI and Associate Professor of Anthropology, is collaborating with Dr. Fleming of PAS and History on this research. She views this project as a timely reflection on both historical and contemporary activism.

"This year marks the 30th anniversary of the first free elections post-apartheid in South Africa, making this a crucial moment to reflect on the past," she explained.

Dr. Storey highlighted the lasting impact of local actions on the international stage, pointing to figures like Carla Wallace, a former student activist and current co-chair of the Anne Braden Institute’s Council.

"It’s about looking at the trajectories of people’s lives and how their activism shapes who they are," she said.

Dr. Fleming, whose expertise lies in African studies, strives to engage students in research that connects Louisville to broader global issues. He aims to dispel the notion that Louisville's actions are insignificant on a global scale.

"One of the things that has shaped my understanding of UofL is that we are not an island; the community blends with the university in so many ways. What happens in Louisville matters, and it often shapes what is going on in the nation or across the globe," he asserted.

Dr. Fleming went on to discuss how voices in Kentucky have not often been a focus when looking back at these pivotal movements in social justice history.

“So much of the focus on anti-apartheid activism in the United States tends to focus on the most progressive areas of the country, like the Northeast or California,” Dr. Fleming states. “Through this project, you see how vast the coalitions are, and you see how the community is in the driver’s seat in a lot of ways, not just the students leading the way solely. You see community members really starting to speak out in the ‘70s, with the on-campus activism really happening in the ‘80s.”

Yomi Ejikunle, a PhD student in Pan-African Studies, is expanding his research on African boycotts of the Olympics to include the broader context of apartheid and its connections to the games.

"The most rewarding aspect of being a member of the project is that I see it as a learning platform. It gives me the opportunity to get more acquainted with South African apartheid history which is related to a project that I am currently researching on, ‘Anti-Apartheid Movement at the Olympics.’ I expect my participation in the project to give me a nuanced understanding of how Louisville’s contribution to the anti-apartheid struggle sparked a national movement that culminated in the end of apartheid in South Africa,” he states. “Also, the project gives me another opportunity to learn and re-learn the process of researching, designing and mounting an exhibition for public consumption.”

By uncovering these stories, ABI honors the legacy of activism and solidarity in Louisville, inspiring current and future generations to continue the fight for social justice.

"This is about highlighting the power we have to make change in small groups and why actions we take here matter, not just in Kentucky, but internationally,” Dr. Storey stated.

The project stands as a testament to the profound impact of local activism on the global stage, reminding us that every voice and action contributes to the larger struggle for justice and equality. Stay tuned as we follow this project and its forthcoming exhibit to be scheduled soon.