“Black Consciousness is an attitude of mind and a way of life, the most positive call to emanate from the black world for a long time. Its essence is the realisszation by the black man of the need to rally together with his brothers around the cause of their oppression -- the blackness of their skin -- and to operate as agroup to rid themselves of the shackles that bind them to perpetual servitude.”
“Black Consciousness is an attitude of mind and a way of life, the most positive call to emanate from the black world for a long time. Its essence is the realisszation by the black man of the need to rally together with his brothers around the cause of their oppression -- the blackness of their skin -- and to operate as agroup to rid themselves of the shackles that bind them to perpetual servitude.”
Blacks must reclaim their identity and redefine it on their own terms, rather than in those set by the white oppressors.
Blacks must reclaim their identity and redefine it on their own terms, rather than in those set by the white oppressors.
“The philosophy of Black Consciousness therefore expresses group pride and the determination of the black to rise and attain the envisaged self. Freedom is the ability to define oneself with one’s possibilities held back not by the power of other people over one but only by one’s relationship to God and to natural surroundings.”
Note that in celebrating black consciousness and black identity, Biko is careful to point out that this itself is not just another form of racism
Note that in celebrating black consciousness and black identity, Biko is careful to point out that this itself is not just another form of racism
“Racism does not only imply exclusion of one race by another -- it always presupposes that the exclusion is for the purposes of subjugation. Blacks have had enough experience as objects of racism not to wish to turn the table”
He was “banned” by the government in 1973, which meant he was not permitted to travel across the country.
He was “banned” by the government in 1973, which meant he was not permitted to travel across the country.
He was arrested on 21 August 1977 and, while in police custody in Port Elizabeth, sustained a massive head injury.
Police reports indicated he was behaving erratically and uncooperative.
Left lying naked and shackled to a metal grille in cell.
Three doctors on duty disregarded the injury.
Three doctors on duty disregarded the injury.
On September 11, another police doctor recommended medical attention, but instead he was driven 600 miles to Pretoria (about 12 hours), a trip which he made lying naked in the back of a Land Rover.
After arriving at the Pretoria Central Prison he was left naked on a floor and unattended, awaiting transfer to the hospital.
After arriving at the Pretoria Central Prison he was left naked on a floor and unattended, awaiting transfer to the hospital.
A few hours later, on 12 September, alone and still naked, lying on the floor of a cell in the Pretoria Central Prison, Biko died from brain damage.
In 1985, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (created after the fall of apartheid) found that:
In 1985, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (created after the fall of apartheid) found that:
"The Commission finds that the death in detention of Mr Stephen Bantu Biko on 12 September 1977 was a gross human rights violation. Magistrate Marthinus Prins found that the members of the SAP were not implicated in his death. The magistrate's finding contributed to the creation of a culture of impunity in the SAP. Despite the inquest finding no person responsible for his death, the Commission finds that, in view of the fact that Biko died in the custody of law enforcement officials, the probabilities are that he died as a result of injuries sustained during his detention."
