1987 – Winnie Mandela Speaks to the UN on Apartheid

On May 19, 1987, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela delivered a powerful speech to United Nations delegates in Geneva, demanding global sanctions against South Africa’s apartheid regime. Her appearance came during a surge in global activism, including divestment campaigns in the U.S. and Europe. Winnie’s speech directly linked the brutal conditions of apartheid to global complicity through trade and investment. Despite years of government surveillance, harassment, and banishment, she had become an enduring symbol of internal resistance. On this date, her voice helped galvanize international institutions and human rights advocates to take more decisive action. The address highlighted the essential role of Black women in foreign policy and human rights discourse and remains a crucial moment in the history of global Black resistance and diplomacy.