Solomon Plaatje (1876-1932) wrote Native Life in South Africa, Before and Since the European War and the Boer Rebellion in order to protest against the Natives' Land Act of 1913, which forbid natives to buy or rent land. Even with the persuasive arguments put forth in this book his appeals did not succeed: The Act went on to become one of the first steps toward the system of Apartheid. Even though Plaatje did not succeed his work helped to unite blacks in South Africa and eventually they were able to over turn the Land Act of 1913.