The Color of Justice: Segregation in the US and South Africa

In this paper, the author outlines how skin color (i.e., race) has impacted justice in the US (with a special focus on the southern United States) and the Republic of South Africa. The focus of this paper is on segregation, and the author illustrates similarities and differences between the two countries in terms of how identities associated with skin color impacted the practice of segregation in both countries. Emphasis is placed on the laws and institutions used to discriminate against people of color over the passage of time. Note that the focus of this paper is on treatment of Blacks, specifically, with limited commentary on other populations (e.g., Native Americans in the US, "Coloreds" and Indians in South Africa). A future paper will explore the treatment of these other groups, as well as other forms of discrimination used in both countries. The paper identifies the purposes of segregation in each country, rooted in theories of racial discrimination.