1910 – South Africa’s Union Constitution Passed, Cementing White Rule

On May 22, 1910, the Union Constitution of South Africa was enacted, uniting four colonies into one white-dominated state. This constitution codified white supremacy, disenfranchising the Black majority and laying the groundwork for apartheid. Indigenous Africans were denied citizenship, land rights, and political representation, formalizing systemic racial segregation decades before apartheid laws were passed in 1948. May 22 is a grim but essential historical marker, reminding us of how constitutional design was weaponized against Black people in the colonial world. It also reveals how modern legal systems were often constructed to exclude, rather than protect, African populations. This date should be remembered not just for its injustice but as a rallying point for understanding how law can either entrench or dismantle racial inequality. The legacy of May 22, 1910, continues to influence debates about restitution, land reform, and legal redress in post-apartheid South Africa and beyond.