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The Black Sash is a South African human rights organisation. It was founded in Johannesburg in 1955 as a non-violent resistance organisation for liberal white women. [1]
Black Sash has adopted a strategic approach to protect the most vulnerable from extreme poverty and hunger. Our focus pivots on creating clear conceptual frameworks regarding social protection in the South African context.
The organisation grew into an avenue for liberal women to oppose government policies by means of marches, convoys, demonstrations and vigils. It came to be called the Black Sash because the women wore black sashes over one shoulder as they stood to demonstrate against discriminatory legislation.
The disrespect of South Africa’s charter was the force that fueled the initial six women into the Women’s Defense of the Constitution League, today known as The Black Sash. Although racial prejudice was not the original factor behind the formation of women, their ideology and organization transformed throughout the decades.
Originally named the Women’s Defence of the Constitution League but was eventually shortened by the press as the Black Sash due to the women’s habit of wearing black sashes at their protest meetings. These black sashes symbolised the mourning for the South Africa Constitution.
With a black sash draped from their shoulders, the members became iconic for their dignified and elegant style of protest. In later years legislation was passed restricting their right to protest in groups, and they were forced to stand in lonely one-woman vigils. Watch the History of Black Sash.
Jul 27, 2015 · Their key strategies were "silent sisterhood" and "blacksashing" (wearing a black sash) during silent protest vigils. (The name 'Black Sash' was adopted as a reference to the sashes they wore or draped over a replica of the 1910 constitution, which robbed the majority of South Africans of the right to vote.)
