30:30 Apartheid in South Africa

I believe that Rugby helped South Africa overcome apartheid because it was something that the country found everyone liked. Regardless of skin color or race, rugby was a common like that both blacks and whites could come together and watch. The problem was that they would watch it together, but not cheer for the same team. Mandela showed that the past is the past and you must swallow your pride and move toward the future. Even though he was locked up for many years of his life because of the white people in South Africa, he came out of jail with an open heart, looking to make peace with whites and blacks. When black South Africans saw this, and saw Mandela wearing the South African rugby hat, they followed him. This helped end apartheid because much of the tension and fear many people had was vanished because rugby showed that blacks and whites can live together and they are no so much different from one another. Sports was the best way for these two groups to come together because it is a non violent event that brings feelings of nationalism. War would bring nationalism but in a violent way. Also it is a South African tradition so it wasn't hard for people to get thrilled and deep into the game of rugby.