Citizenship isn't all that's required, for equality. African-Americans had formal citizenship rights for a 100 years (1860s till 1960s), before equality even began, partly, to become a reality.
I recall reading, years ago, various apologies for apartheid. "South African blacks, compared to black people in black-ruled nations, have higher wages, longer life expectancy, more education. etc. Look at the unhappy examples of Congo and all the rest, those people don't know how to govern themselves. SA blacks may suffer discrimination, but they're still better off than blacks outside of South Africa, and you don't see any of them emigrating to Nigeria. They are citizens of their Bantustans, where they can vote democratically, something they can't do elsewhere in Africa. So aparteid is good for blacks." This line of reasoning (the same one you are using) didn't stop the rebellion. And the overwhelming superiority of the apartheid government, in tanks, airplanes, guns, etc., didn't keep them from losing their guerrila war. |
