The relationship between whites and non-whites in the South African historiography

Inaugural lecture--Department of History, Rand Afrikaans University, 6 May 1974The necessity of the historical study of relations between the different races in South Africa should in the first place be undertaken on account of its importance in the picture of the country's past and not in direct connection with the present urgency of the question. Study of the subject is connected with several important problems. In the first place there are a relatively small number of trained historians available. Secondly, there has been a trend during the past decade to view relations between whites and non-whites as a field of research in its own right and not any more as a bone of contention between the two white groups in South Africa. While this trend must be welcomed, it should not lead to a warped view of the past as a whole. Thirdly, past relations should be tackled in a spirit of interdisciplinary aid as far as it can be useful to and possible for the historian. And lastly, historical work is hampered by differences in approach between Afrikaans-and English-speaking academics. The extent to which academic work has already been done and the standard thereof is taken into view under the following categories: political and administrative; social-economic; military; ideological and religious; and educational. With regard to the political-administrative and military aspects much has been done. In the other fields a large amount of basic research still lies ahead. The future task awaiting historians is chiefly threefold: First and most urgent is the filling of still existing gaps in our historical knowledge. Secondly, a more comprehensive view should be taken of the different factors which influenced relations between the racial groups, without weakening the credibility and thoroughness of the research results. Thirdly, the ideal of objectivity should be carefully pursued. On that basis an academic conversation between historians of different background, including non-white historians, should be possible