"I didn't actually realise what apartheid meant. I'm probably a bit naive, but I thought it was more of a vague segregation, like on the beaches and buses"

John Deacon's quote shows his lack of understanding of the seriousness of apartheid in South Africa. He was most likely unaware of the systemic bigotry and injustice that was imposed by the federal government. His naivety appears in his belief that apartheid was just a "vague partition" that just impacted certain areas such as beaches and buses. This lack of knowledge is indicative of the illiteracy and awareness of the concern in the West. It is essential to note that apartheid was much more than simply partition, it was a system of institutionalized racism and injustice that denied standard human rights to countless people. John Deacon's quote works as a reminder of the value of informing ourselves on the history of apartheid and its impacts on South African society.