NAME AND SURNAME: TINTSWALO LYDIA NUKERI
GRADE AND KEY: 12/2
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
PAGE 1: COVER PAGE
PAGE 2: TABLE OF CONENTS
PAGE 3-10: BODY OF THE ESSAY
PAGE 11: REFLECTION
PAGE 12: BIBILOGRAPHY
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The 1970s marked a critical period in the evolution of political resistance in
South Africa. A key factor during this period was the rise of the black
consciousness movement which aimed to instill black pride and encourage
resistance against the oppressive laws implemented by the apartheid
government. The black consciousness movement was beyond a movement it
was a philosophy that believed in the liberation of black South Africans. The
black consciousness movement played a significant role in reshaping politics in
South Africa and intensifying resistance against the apartheid regime during the
1970s. Indeed, the black consciousness had an impact on south African politics
during the 1970s.
Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial segregation and
discrimination, which was implemented by the national party (NP) in South
Africa from 1948 to the early 1990s. Apartheid was implemented to maintain
white supremacy and control black South Africans, using pseudoscientific ideas
to justify its policies. The apartheid government introduced oppressive laws
such as the suppression of communism act and the pass laws, which restricted
the movements and rights of black South Africans and banned political parties
that resisted against the apartheid government. During the 1960s resistance
against the apartheid government was crushed. (South African history online,
2019)
Political organizations like the African national congress (ANC) and the Pan
Africanist congress (PAC) were banned. Majority of the political leaders were
arrested, forced into exile, or killed. This created a political vacuum leaving black
South Africans feeling powerless to resist the apartheid regime. Amidst this
oppressive regime, the black consciousness movement (BCM) emerged as a
powerful force for resistance promoting black pride, and self-empowerment. The
role of the black consciousness movement was to challenge the psychological and
social effects of apartheid, ultimately contributing to the dismantling of the
apartheid regime. (South African history online, 2019)
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The black consciousness movement (BCM) was a grassroot liberation movement
in South Africa that sought to empower black people and challenge the ideology
of white supremacy. At its core the black consciousness movement emphasized
the importance of black pride, identity, and self-reliance. Influenced or rather
inspired by the black power movement (BPM), Steve Biko implemented the black
consciousness movement which believed that black people needed to liberate
themselves before achieving political freedom, the black consciousness
movement rejected the idea of racial inferiority perpetuated by the apartheid
government. (South African history online, 2019)
The book, “I write what I like” by Steve Biko, is more than a collection of essays
but rather a manifesto of the black consciousness movement (BCM), which
advocated for psychological liberation, self-reliance, black pride and black
identity during the apartheid regime. In this book Steve Biko's quotes highlight
the core principles of the black consciousness movement. One of Steve Biko's
most famous quotes “the most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is
the mind of the oppressed” carries a powerful message regarding the true nature
of liberation. This quote highlights the fact that during the apartheid regime
oppression was not only enforced through the implementation of harsh laws and
policies, but also through the apartheid government making black South Africans
feel inferior. This quote calls on the oppressed black South Africans to free their
minds, embrace their identity and recognize their value, because Steve Biko
believed that true liberation begins with a change in mindset. (Biko, 2004, p.68)
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Steve Biko's quote, “merely by describing yourself as black, you have started on
a road towards emancipation, you have committed yourself to fight against all
forces that seek to use your blackness as a stamp that marks you out as a
subservient being”, in this quote, Steve Biko emphasizes that recognizing and
embracing ones black identity is a powerful act of resistance against the apartheid
regime that aimed to make black South Africans feel inferior. During apartheid
being black was often associated with inferiority, oppression, and exclusion. By
proudly identifying as black, individuals challenged this narrative and began the
process of reclaiming their dignity and humanity. This quote highlights the fact
that liberation starts in the mind, with a conscious decision to reject the image
created that blacks are inferior and instead affirm self-worth and pride.
(Biko ,2004)
Steve Biko was a powerful and inspiring anti-apartheid activist who implemented
or rather introduced the ideology of the black consciousness movement. Initially
Steve Biko got involved in student politics through the National Union of South
African Students (NUSAS), which was led by white liberal students. However,
Steve Biko felt that the national union of South African students, which was
mostly led by white students did not truly understand the struggles of black south
Africans, this can be regarded as one of the factors that led to Steve Biko
implementing the South African student's organization (SASO) during the 1960s.
The South African student's organization only focused on the needs of black
students and promoted black pride and unity. SASO believed that black people
should not rely or rather depend on white allies for their liberation.
Steve Biko's philosophy was mainly influenced by Frantz Fanon, who believed that
oppressed people must free themselves from the psychological chains of
inferiority imposed by the apartheid regime. Through the South African student's
organization (SASO), Steve Biko emphasized the importance of mental liberation
as the foundation for political resistance against the apartheid government,
through this organization Steve Biko encouraged black students to become more
politically aware. In addition to SASO, Steve Biko played a central role in
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implementing or rather forming the black people's convention (BPC) during 1972,
which involved students, churches, black communities and trade unions. The
black people's convention (BPC) brought together various black consciousness
groups into a unified movement to strengthen their impact. During the 1974,
both the South African student's organization (SASO) and the black people's
convention (BPC) organized viva Frelimo rallies.
Furthermore, the black allied workers union (BAWU), was a union that addressed
the grievances of black south African workers. The BAWU which was rooted in
the core principles the BCM highlighted the importance of political consciousness
within workplaces. Not only did the BAWU the improve wages and working
conditions of black workers but also instilled a sense of dignity among black
workers.
The south African student's movement which was formed in 1972 exposed blacks
to the ideals of the black consciousness. The South African students' movement
(SASM) influenced or rather shaped by the south African student's organization
(SASO) ideology was central to instilling political consciousness in south African
students. The south African students' movement aimed to challenge the
discriminatory educational system implemented by the apartheid regime. Overall,
the south African student's movement played a significant role in fostering
political consciousness among black south African students.
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The black community programmes (BCP) played a significant role within the black
consciousness movement (BPM), by promoting self-reliance and black pride. The
BPC aimed to restore dignity and encourage black south Africans to uplift
themselves without relying or rather depending on the apartheid government.
The black community programmes (BCP) offered services in health care,
education, and job creation. One of the most well-known projects by the black
community programmes was the zanempilo community health center, which was
implemented by Steve Biko after his banishment to king Williams town during
1972, this programme provided free health care for rural communities. Other
projects implemented by the BCP were the ithuseng community clinic, the
njaward leather-work project, which taught skills for economic independence,
and lastly the Ginberg education trust project, which provided black south African
students with bursaries. These projects challenged the apartheid government by
fostering black resilience and rejecting the images or rather idea that black people
are inferior. These programmes by the BCP exposed the fact that the apartheid
government neglected black communities.
The rise of black pride and self-reliance among Soweto students during the 1970s
was largely influenced by the black consciousness movement and the unjust
policies implemented by the apartheid regime in 1975. The apartheid
government introduced a policy under the Bantu education that required black
schools to be taught in Afrikaans, however this decision by the apartheid regime
was challenged by black students and educators because they viewed Afrikaans
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as the language of the oppressor. organizations such as the south African
student's organization (SASO) and the south African student's movement (SASM)
played a significant role in shaping student resistance and promoting the values
of the black consciousness movement that encouraged black south Africans to
take pride in their identity. These organizations influenced the formation of the
Soweto student's representative council (SSRC) which became a leading force in
students' activism.
The implementation of the “50/50” language policy, which mandated that black
schools must teach certain subjects in both Afrikaans and English on a 50/50 basis.
However, students believed or rather felt that being forced to learn in Afrikaans
would further disadvantage them academically and socially. On the 16th of June
1976, students peacefully protested against the implementation of the circular,
this protest was meant to be a peacefully protest but it was violently suppressed
by the police. The tragic killing of the 13-year-old Hector Peterson, drew
international attention and intensified outrage both locally and abroad.
In response the government implemented harsh measures, but the momentum
of the movement could not be stopped. The Soweto uprising marked a turning
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point in the anti-apartheid struggle, which led to an increase in political
awareness among the youth. Majority of the students went into exile and joined
liberal movements like the PAC and ANC. Overall the Soweto uprising reflected a
growing sense of empowerment, unity and self-reliance among black south
Africans.
Steve Biko was regarded as a disruptive force by the apartheid government
because his ideas encouraged black South Africans to stand up against racial
oppression and reject the belief that they were inferior. However, this led to
Steve Biko being arrested on the 18th of august 1977 because of his political
activism and leadership in the black consciousness movement. Steve Biko was
arrested under the apartheid governments terrorist act, which allowed people to
be arrested without trail. Steve Biko was held in solidarity confinement, where he
was brutally beaten up by the police to silence his influence and break his spirit,
unfortunately these actions by the police led to Steve Biko's death. His death
marked a turning point in the struggle against the apartheid regime. The brutality
that was faced by Steve Biko highlighted or rather revealed the extreme lengths
the apartheid government would go to suppress resistance. Steve Biko's
leadership and vision sparked a revival of protests and resistance throughout the
1970s, especially among the youth, making him a central figure in the fight against
the apartheid government.
In conclusion, the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM) stands as a powerful
testament to the resilience, determination, and courage of Black South Africans
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in their pursuit of freedom and equality. Throughout its existence, the BCM not
only resisted the oppressive structures of apartheid through political activism but
also addressed the psychological and social toll of racial oppression. By fostering
a sense of pride, identity, and self-reliance, the movement empowered
individuals and communities to reclaim their dignity and assert their agency in
the face of systemic injustice.
REFLECTION:
The Black Consciousness Movement (BCM), spearheaded by Steve Biko and other
student leaders, played a crucial role in reshaping South African politics during
the 1970s. At a time when apartheid laws were at their most oppressive, the BCM
awakened a powerful sense of pride, identity, and agency among black South
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Africans. It challenged the psychological impact of apartheid by encouraging
people to reject the internalized sense of inferiority and instead embrace their
black identity with dignity and confidence.
What makes the movement particularly impactful is how it shifted the focus from
just resisting apartheid laws to transforming the mindset of black people. It gave
birth to a new wave of activism, especially among students and young people,
who began organizing protests, strikes, and other forms of resistance. The 1976
Soweto Uprising, though not directly led by the BCM, was deeply inspired by its
ideas and marked a turning point in South African resistance politics.
Reflecting on this, it’s clear that the BCM did more than mobilize political action,
it reignited hope and self-worth in an oppressed population. It laid the
psychological and ideological foundation for future resistance movements and
played a significant role in the eventual dismantling of apartheid. Personally,
learning about this movement is inspiring because it shows how powerful ideas
and identity can be in driving social and political change, even in the face of brutal
oppression.
BIBILOGRAPHY:
1. African union. (n.d). The pan-africanist movement and the road to
liberation. Retrieved april 21,2025 from: https://oau60.au.int/en/panafricanist-movement-and-road-to-liberation
2. Biko, s,1971. I write what i like.london:picador
3. Encyclopedia britannica,n.d. black consciousness movement [online]
available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/black-consciousnessmovement
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4. History.com editors, 2019. Apartheid: definition & south Africa. [online]
available at: https://www.history.com/articles/apartheid
5. Mandela, n., 1994. Long walk to freedom: the autobiography of Nelson
Mandela. New York: little, brown and company
6. Mbeki,t., 1998. Africa: the time has come. Cape town: Talberg
7. Ramphele,m., 1993. A bed called home: life in migrant labour hostels of
cape town. Cape town: David Phillip publishers.
8. South African history online, the June Soweto youth uprising. [online]
available at: https://www.sahistory.org.a/article/june-soweto-youthuprising
9. Tutu. d., 1999. No future without forgiveness. New York: doubleday
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