In this paper the author sketches how the issues of ‘race’ and racism have been taken up on the psychological terrain in South Africa over the past century. Racism manifested as both segregation and inequality in mental health provisions, and was actively promoted by leading psychologists. Psychologists on the other side of a political divide however turned attention to analysis of race relations mainly through the study of prejudice. Three areas of research are reviewed. While some useful findings have emerged, certain criticisms may be directed against this liberal framework of ‘race’ as prejudice.
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