Stories from the United Nations Archives: Stevie Wonder speaks out against apartheid
A secluded beach at Stranofontein near Cape Town, South Africa, 1985. (file)
The music legend held a press conference after an epic efficiency at one meeting of the United Nations Special Committee against racism to honor him on his 35th birthday.
“All people are created equal and not created to care for another race of people,” he told the committee.
“The resettlement camps are wrong. If they are so great, why don’t white people want to live there?”
Watch all of Mr. Wonder at the General Assembly Hall Thisand listened to his birthday press conference This.
In 1985, the South African Government banned his songs, which included Wrong (Racism)after the musician dedicated his Oscar to Nelson Mandelaa political prisoner since 1962 who fought against the concept of legal apartheid.
Five years later, in 1990, Mr. Mandela spoke at the United Nations Special Committee against Racism himself, four months after his release from prison and four years before he was elected President of South Africa. Listen to Mr. Mandela’s full speech This.
The United Nations General Assembly has introduced many measures action against racismincluding the adoption of resolutions 32/105B declared 1978 as the International Year Against Racism and other 2009 recognized July 18 as Nelson Mandela International Day.
On #ThrowbackThursday, UN News is showcasing key moments from the United Nations’ past. From the infamous and almost forgotten to world leaders and global superstars, tune in for a taste of United Nations Audiovisual Libraryis 49,400 hours of video recording and 18,000 hours of audio recording.
Access UN Video Stories from the United Nations Archives playlist This and our accompanying series This. Join us next Thursday to learn more about history.
