NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?

SUMMARY

Nearly 60 white South Africans were admitted into the U.S. as part of President Donald Trump’s resettlement program. Afrikaners, largely descendants of Dutch and French colonial settlers, led the apartheid government until it ended. The White House claims a new South African law is racist and the white minority is being persecuted. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Bill Frelick of Human Rights Watch.

View the transcript of the story.

News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

Key Terms

apartheid — derived from the Afrikaans word meaning "apartness" or "separateness," refers to a system of racial segregation and discrimination that existed in South Africa from 1948 to 1994.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. Who are the White Afrikaners? What government did they lead in South Africa?
2. What does the Trump administration say about the classifications of White Afrikaners as refugees?
3. When did the expropriation law in South Africa come into effect, and what does it state?
4. Where are the Afrikaner refugee camps?
5. How do migrants typically travel to the country where they are receiving refugee status?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

1. What is one of the main differences between the White Afrikaners who have received refugee status from Trump and other refugees around the world who have had to flee their country due to persecution or conflict?
2. Why do you think that the White Afrikaners received expedited refugee status from the Trump administration, including chartered flights paid for by the U.S., while refugees from countries in South America, Africa and the Middle East are expected to wait much longer and go through more complex processes?

Media literacy: Why do you think the producers chose to interview Bill Frelick of Human Rights Watch specifically for this story?

WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO

Watch the video below to see how the White Afrikaners were received in the United States.

Next, watch the video below to learn about the Sudanese refugee crisis.

1. What can you ascertain about the differences in the experiences of the White Afrikaners compared to the Sudanese refugees?
2. Do you think the Trump administration could provide similar support to the Sudanese refugees?

Written by Gianfranco Beran, PBS News Hour Classroom's production assistant, and News Hour's Vic Pasquantonio.

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