Coloured facts for kids
 Extended coloured family with roots in Cape Town, Kimberley and Pretoria. |
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (4,539,790 (2011; estimated)) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| South Africa (Western Cape and Northern Cape), Namibia, Zimbabwe | |
| Languages | |
| Afrikaans (75%) and English (25%) | |
| Religion | |
| Christian (90%), Muslim (<5%) | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Afrikaners, Cape Dutch, Cape Coloureds, Cape Malays, Khoikhoi, Xhosa, Indos, Saint Helenians |
In South African, Namibian, Zambian, Botswanan, and Zimbabwean context, the term Coloured (Kleurlinge in Afrikaans) is used to refer to people of mixed European and Khoisan or Bantu ancestry.
They form the majority of the Northern Cape and Western Cape populations. Most Coloured speak Afrikaans as their first language, although there are some native English speakers. The majority of Coloureds living in Cape Town are able to speak both languages.
Because of South Africa's history of racial discrimination, many feel that the term coloured is derogatory. The official term is "Coloured people", but many Coloureds prefer to call themselves "Black", "Khoisan", or just "South African".
Contents
Apartheid
During apartheid, people were classified into four groups: White, Black, Coloured, and Asian. The Cape Malays, who are of Asian descent, were not classified as Asians, but as Coloureds.
Although they were discriminated upon by the government, many Coloureds and Asians got to enjoy certain rights during the apartheid era. For example, they did not have to carry around a passbook, had limited political representation, and were considered citizens of South Africa.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Adam Kok III, leader of the Coloured Griqua People
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Explanation of South African identity numbers in an identity document during apartheid in terms of official White, Coloured and Indian population subgroups
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Racial-demographic map of South Africa published by the CIA in 1979, with data from the 1970 South African census.
See also
In Spanish: Coloured para niños
