Political power and race relations in South Africa: African attitudes before and after the transition

When an oppressed majority finally gains political power what happens to it s attitudes to its erstwhile oppressor, and to its perceptions and feelings about its socioeconomic disadvantages that were established during its opp ression ? Longitudinal data from pre- and post-transition surveys of black South African college and high school students indicate marked reductions i n perceptions of and outrage about intergroup socioeconomic inequity and de privation relative to English-speaking and Afrikaans-speaking whites, but n o change in attitudes toward these groups or toward whites in general. The findings are discussed in terms of contemporary theory and research on just ice intergroup relations, and group conflict Some tentative implications fo r the prospects for a democratic political culture in South Africa are note d.