Anti-Apartheid Poster: Crush Racism c.1989

Silkscreen,
CRUSH RACISM... and all that keeps racism alive, produced by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), identified by the emblem in the top-left corner featuring the wheel, laborers, and the slogan "An injury to one is an injury to all".

Anti-Apartheid / Labour Rights / Social Justice.

• Primary Imagery: A bold, linocut-style illustration depicting two laborers—one wearing a miner's helmet with a lamp—wielding large hammers.
• Symbolism: The workers are shown striking down upon a nest of snakes. These snakes represent various systemic issues, with individual labels including:

• Racism
• Sexism
• Poverty wages
• Exploitation
• Oppression
• Neo-liberalism
• Xenophobia
• Tribalism
• Migrant labour
• Corruption

Historical Significance

This poster is a significant artifact of South African political history, reflecting the intersectional approach of the trade union movement during the transition from Apartheid to democracy. By labeling the "snakes" with terms like "neo-liberalism" and "xenophobia," the poster emphasizes that ending racial segregation (Apartheid) was only one part of a broader struggle against economic and social inequalities.

Torn at the edges. Stains on the front and back.

590mm x 840mm

R3,000