Blackburn, Molly (1930-1985)

Born November 12, 1930, in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Molly Blackburn was introduced at an early age to liberal and progressive ideals by her father, a chairman of the Progressive Party of Port Elizabeth. That early orientation was to become a central focus and driving force of Blackburn's life. In addition to tending to seven children and her husband, Blackburn passionately committed much of her life to relentlessly fighting racial discrimination and injustice toward black individuals in South Africa. She was consistently active in numerous civil rights campaigns and served as a key member of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. Blackburn also served as a member of the provincial legislature for the Progressive Federal Party during the 1980s, among other accomplishments.

Also of note is Blackburn's participation in the Black Sash, a grassroots, nonviolent organization made up of white South African women who shared the purpose of combating apartheid legislation. At one time acting as the Port Elizabeth Black Sash leader, she later rejected the organization when she began to feel the members were becoming sedentary. Blackburn has been referred to as Black Sash's most legendary member. Throughout her life, Blackburn persistently made clear her opposition to the government's perspective and legislation on issues of race and, consequently, was repeatedly arrested for integrating with black individuals, against government regulations. Blackburn's dedication to the movement was further evidenced by her frequent appearances in two controversial and public arenas; she was often the only white individual to attend rallies favoring the rights of black individuals, and she was regularly seen at funerals of black citizens who had died as a result of racial violence.

Blackburn did not limit her fight against injustice solely to civilian civil rights; she also helped investigate corrupt law enforcement occurrences. She was particularly active in investigating a number of police shootings in a black Cape Town township in March 1985. In addition, Blackburn was consistently invited by other black townships to assist in their particular battles toward gaining equal human and civil rights enjoyed by white South African citizens.

On December 28, 1985, at age 55, Blackburn was killed in a head-on car collision. The accident occurred when she was returning from a black township, where she had been assisting parents of children enduring human rights abuses by security forces. Some antiapartheid activists questioned whether white individuals, who considered her a traitor, had planned her death. Blackburn, as well as a number of other anti-apartheid advocates, had, in fact, received numerous death threats. Whether an accident or not, Blackburn's death was viewed as a tremendous loss for the apartheid opposition movement.