South Africa Rebels with a Cause

The three hues appear on everything from floral wreaths to T shirts, dominating mass funerals for black victims of South Africa's racial violence, meetings of the United Democratic Front opposition and the few other public demonstrations permitted under the current state of emergency. Black stands for the people, green for the country, gold for the minerals. The colors are the symbol of the African National Congress, the organization sworn to bring an end to South Africa's apartheid system of racial segregation -- and to three centuries of white rule. Though outlawed since 1960, the A.N.C. has emerged during the unrest of...