"No easy walk to freedom": Political organisation in the western areas of Johannesburg between the world wars

Abstract

The Western Areas of Johannesburg, and Sophiatown in particular, came to symbolize black protest in the 1950s and became arguably the most politicized area in the country, albeit for a short period. This paper will seek to explore the background to such developments by looking at the activities of political organisations prior to the Second World War, during an era recognised as one of limited political activity in the cities though not in the countryside, “the years of anguished impotence” according to one writer. (1)