Links & Books

FILM-RELATED WEBSITES

Promised Land
The filmmaker's website features upcoming screening dates, information on the film crew and more.

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West (New York: Henry Holt & Company, 1970)
In this book, Dee Brown traces the history of Indians and their treatment by the United States government. Roger Roman, one of the characters in Promised Land, was inspired by the book and fought against the forced evictions of black "squatters" on his land.

BBC News: South African White Farm to be Seized
Hannes Visser, the white landowner, farmer and meatpacker featured in Promised Land, was forced to sell his farm to the black claimants by the South African government. This BBC News article takes a look at his case in the context of land reform in South Africa. (September 23, 2005)

RESOURCES

Brief Background on Apartheid

About.com: African History: Apartheid FAQ
A brief FAQ outlines the apartheid system in South Africa during the 20th century. About.com also features a list of Apartheid laws in South Africa, which legally defined and enforced segregation.

Nelson Mandela Foundation
The Nelson Mandela Foundation features a rich collection of resources on the history of South Africa, including an extensive outline of the country's transition from apartheid to democracy and an archive of materials from the world-wide anti-apartheid movement. The foundation also focuses on current issues in South Africa by trying to foster dialogue and conversation within the country.

Apartheid Museum
The website of this museum is produced in collaboration with the Gauteng Department of Education and the Provincial South African History Project. The website offers "Understanding Apartheid," a supplement for teachers and learners, and links to other resources about the history of apartheid.

Avoice | African American Voices in Congress: Anti-Apartheid
This section of the Avoice website focuses on the anti-apartheid activities of the Congressional Black Caucus in the United States. Visit the history and timeline pages to read more anti-apartheid activities. A section for educators provides activities for students.

Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela (Boston: Back Bay Books, 1994)
Primarily written secretly while he was imprisoned for 27 years on Robben Island by South Africa's apartheid regime, Nelson Mandel reveals much about the journey of his life. Long Walk to Freedom discloses a strong spirit that prevailed under desperate circumstances and inspired a nation.

No Future Without Forgiveness (New York: Random House, 1999)
In this book, Desmond Tutu's recounts memories of his time serving as chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa, and highlights the challenges of healing and restoring a nation torn by Apartheid.

Land Reform in South Africa

Land and Agrarian Reform In South Africa (PDF)
This background is the Land and Research Action Network (LRAN)'s primer on land reform issues in South Africa. It offers an overview of the historical basis for land reform, demographics and social indicators, as well as an examination of South Africa's reform efforts.

PLAAS: Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies
A South African research institute, PLAAS conducts in-depth research into a number of areas, including land rights and land reform in South Africa. The publications section of the Institute's website offers books, research reports, working papers and more on land reform. Read a 2010 status report on land and agricultural policy in South Africa and a land reform status report from 2008 to learn more about the current situation in the country.

Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE): Land Reform
A South African development think tank that focuses on the private sector, the CDE develops policy recommendations in a number of areas, including land reform. Read research reports authored by the organization, including Land Reform in South Africa: Getting Back on Track.

Reuters Africa: SAfrica farmer's union against speedy land reform
Africa's largest farmers group says government plans to speed up land reform would undermine farmers' confidence and affect the security of food supplies in Africa's biggest economy. (June 9, 2010)

PressTV: Land reform has not benefited Blacks
South African President Jacob Zuma says the country's Black majority has not benefited from post-apartheid land reform programs due to poor management and legislation. (May 29, 2010)

AllAfrica.com: South Africa: Land Reform-Same Problem, Different Approach
South African President Jacob Zuma is taking a new approach to solving land and agrarian reform: dividing the administration of land reforms into two separate ministries. With this approach, the South African government hopes to improve the land reform process and increase production on redistributed farms. (August 21. 2009)

BBC News: South Africa's Disputed Land
Land reform in South Africa is a key ANC policy but it is going badly wrong. Journalist Rosie Goldsmith met black claimants and white farmers who are caught in the struggle over land. (July 9, 2008)

BBC Radio: South African Land Reform
Listen to Dr. Deborah James, the Author of Gaining Ground?: 'Rights' and 'property' in South African Land Reform, as she talks about the progress of South Africa land reform. (June 27, 2007)

Land Reform Around the Globe

Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD)
ALRD works on agrarian reform and land reform in Bangladesh and advocates for peasants, land poor, indigenous people, minorities and women to establish land rights. Learn more about land issues in Bangladesh by reading ALRD's publications.

WiserEarth: Land Reform
A social network, WiserEarth brings together organization, resources, people and more that focuses on land reform. Browse their "Connections" list on the right side of the page to find out more about land reform around the world.

International Land Coalition: The Continuing Need for Land Reform: Making the Case for Civil Society
This extensive article discusses land issues faced by developing nations worldwide, and focuses specifically on poverty and land issues in Latin America.

PBS/NPR

PBS

Online NewsHour: Land Redistribution in Southern Africa
Online NewsHour's Leah Clapman provides an overview of the history of land restitution and the beginnings of reform in South Africa. (April 14, 2004)

Road to Riches: Interview Transcript
Susan Rice discusses South Africa and black economic empowerment with host Mishal Husain. (August 28, 2003)

Commanding Heights: Full Report-South Africa
A historical, political and economic timeline on South Africa, chronicling the history of apartheid from 1910 to 2003.

NPR

Morning Edition: White Supremacist's Murder Opens Old Wounds
Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep interviews Charlayne Hunter-Gault to learn more about the climate in South Africa in response to the murder of one of the country's most notorious white supremacists. The situation appears to be opening up old wounds dating back to the apartheid era. South African officials are trying to keep a lid on any racial violence and President Jacob Zuma has called for calm. (April 5, 2010)

Morning Edition: Apartheid-Era Song Swells Racial Tensions In S. Africa
Charlayne Hunter-Gault examines a song that threatens to challenge the fragile racial peace that has existed since apartheid. (April 2, 2010)

Morning Edition: Land Ownership Disparity Persists in South Africa
Since the end of South Africa's apartheid regime, whites still own more than 80 percent of commercial agricultural land. South African President Thabo Mbeki has endorsed the expropriation of white-owned farms as part of his country's land reform program. (November 8, 2005)

South Africa Speeds Land Reform
In 2004, South African President Thabo Mbeki signed into law a measure allowing white-owned land to be seized without a court order, which directly affected some of the subjects in Promise Land. NPR's Jason Beaubien reported from Johannesburg. (March 7, 2004)