In the 1940’s things started to get better for the black South Africans. They started to feel optimistic and confident because all the whites had gone to war, which meant they weren’t they was hardly anyone in the city, so this was a chance for the blacks to move back to the city and try to put their lives back on tracks. The fact that the whites were at war was a major break through for the blacks because the companies would need people to work there. Like the mining and manufacturing companies, they needed people to make all the guns and machines. This was turning point for them for the reason that they got to work in the companies in the city and they will start to earn money like before and would be able to get their lives together again. Many more of them stated leaving the reserves and moved back to the city because the reserves got worse, all the water was dirty; there were no toilets and no more food. The period of war strained Smuts the Prime minister at the time, to loosen up some of the laws. He loosened the law that told blacks to carry a pass if they wanted to go into the city or anywhere, this pass was important to the whites because they didn’t want blacks to mix with them. Smuts didn’t do this because he finally realised that segregation was wrong, but because he was desperate, he needed people to work for him in the city because the white workers had gone to war. He was afraid the city would collapse and he would lose everything he had. The blacks were his only chance and hope.
In the 1940s the ANC (African National Congress) revived under younger leaders who pressed for a more confrontational attitude against colour bars in South Africa. The ANC Youth League, founded in 1944, attracted such figures as (the active unionist), (he was a great organiser), (he was the most thoughtful of the group) and Anton Lembede(he was the heart of the group and also helped revive the ANC) , who in turn displaced the party's moderate leadership in 1949. Under their leadership the ANC began sponsoring non-violent protests, strikes, boycotts, and marches, in the process becoming a target of police harassment and arrest. By the end of World War II the ANC had begun strong campaigning against the pass laws; and, after the victory (1948) of the with its doctrines of apartheid and white supremacy, the ANC's membership grew rapidly, rising, the year that was elected to head the party. This group made the blacks of South Africa to feel optimistic because for once in a long time they had someone to stand up for them, this made them think if they can do it so can we so they started being proud of their heritage and were proud of their country, culture, colour and language.
The Atlantic Charter was the contract signed by the Allies (the countries who won the war). It was a statement of the peace aims of the Allies. Before the Atlantic charter in South Africa, blacks did not have freedom of movement, no freedom of choice of employment, no right of choice of residence and no right of freedom to purchase land or fixed property from anyone and anywhere. They also didn’t have any voting rights. The 1941 , declared the rights of all peoples to free will, also inspired political activists in South Africa. This Charter promised equality and freedom of speech. This made optimistic because for once they thought they would be able to protest and have a voice to stand up and to make their points known. The charter also promised them freedom of worship, they would be allowed to worship who ever they wanted and no one would tell them that they religion is not worth it. They were also promised the freedom from want, so no one can tell them what the want or have to do. They were to be free from fear, this made them even more optimistic because the thought of them being free from the Afrikaner, meant they wouldn’t be scared anymore, for while under the Afrikaner everything you did was almost being watched and if they find you doing something they don’t like you get punished. The most important was that they would have freedom to vote for whomever they wanted to lead them, without anyone stopping them and telling them they had no rights. This really brought the blacks spirit up, and made them think they had a life to look forward to.
I think the most important reason for people feeling optimistic was the war, because they had a chance to do something about their situation, they had the confidence of leaving the reserves for they knew it was their only chance to rebuild their lives back in the city (which they did). They hardly had anybody telling them what to do, where to go or when, they were basically free at this time so this made them look forward and say we made it and each day they felt stronger because they felt they had their lives back. The war was a turning point and a breakthrough because they regained their confidence and felt they could stand up for themselves because they knew the government was weak at this time. Even if they worked in mines it was all right because at the end of the day you would rather work they’re than live in the deadly reserves. The war made them think of their heritage and encouraged them to be proud of their country, their culture, their colour and most important language.
I also think that the ANC was quiet important because for once the blacks had someone they could look up to, to speak out for them and to protest for them. They also had some one they could count on to stand up for them, this brought them confidence because they thought if someone of our race can do it so can we. This revival was ready to give more valuable control to black habitation than ever before.