South Africa Still Grapples With Race

J O H A N N E S B U R G, South Africa, Aug. 30 -- As South Africa prepares to open a global racism conference in Durban, the country that witnessed the birth and death of apartheid is still struggling to move beyond its disturbing past.

Seven years after shedding a political system based on the fundamental assumption of white superiority, South Africa has held two successful elections, but the dream of an egalitarian society remains distant.

Along with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki is due on Friday to open the eight-day conference, which has gathered nearly 6,000 delegates from 150 countries.

Although the delegates will attempt to arrive at a declaration of principles and a plan of action to tackle racism, most experts believe it may be a contentious affair.

In the weeks leading up to the conference, many U.N. member nations have voiced concerns over an internationally recognized definition of racism.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell will not attend the conference in a show of U.S. anger at attempts by several Arab nations to brand Israel a racist nation for its recent targeting of Palestinians.

While many African countries have demanded an apology for the slave trade that enriched many parts of the West until the 19th century, the United States and Europe have ruled out an apology, fearing exposure to lawsuits.

The developing world has had its bones of contention, as well. Despite pleas from human rights activists, the Indian government has refused to allow the ancient system of caste to be included in the rubric of racism.

Rainbow Nation

As the delegates struggle to arrive at an internationally approved means of protecting ethnic and minority rights, Mbeki's "rainbow nation" is very likely to be held up as an example after its peaceful overthrow of apartheid.

The South African ideal was publicly articulated on May 8, 1996, in a historic speech by then-President Nelson Mandela. "Now I can see the Rainbow Nation rising," said Mandela, to a euphoric response.