The book highlights the rise of Afrikaner nationalism and the colonial context that enabled the system. The book chronicles the key apartheid laws, the resistance efforts of figures like Nelson Mandela and Steve Biko, and the impact of international pressure. It details how the Population Registration Act and Group Areas Act controlled where people could live and work, and how the Bantu Education Act dictated the type of education they could receive.
Ultimately, it was the combined internal and external resistance that led to the dismantling of apartheid. Structured chronologically and thematically, Apartheid Era progresses from the historical roots of apartheid through its implementation, resistance, and eventual dismantling. It concludes with an examination of South Africa's transition to democracy, the challenges of reconciliation, and the lingering effects of economic inequality and social justice issues, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of this critical period in world history.