South African police open fire on a crowd protesting pass laws in Sharpeville, killing 69 people.
At a Glance
- Date
- 21 March 1960
- Location
- Sharpeville, South Africa
- Category
- Diaspora & Global
- Source
- United Nations records; contemporary accounts · United Nations
What It Meant Then
It marked a turning point that pushed the anti-apartheid movement toward armed resistance and global condemnation.
What It Means Now
March 21 is now observed by the UN as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “The Sharpeville Massacre.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-sharpeville-massacre/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). The Sharpeville Massacre. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-sharpeville-massacre/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “The Sharpeville Massacre.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-sharpeville-massacre/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.