1973 - Black Consciousness Movement

By the mid-1960s, the government had silenced major anti-apartheid organizations in South Africa like the ANC. The Black Consciousness Movement in the 1970s instigated a social, cultural, and political awakening in the country. This philosophy redefined “Black” as an inclusive, positive identity. It taught that Black South Africans could make meaningful change in their society if awakened to their self-worth and the need for activism. The movement emboldened youth, contributed to the development of Black Theology and cultural movements, and led to new community and political organizations such as the Black Community Programs organization and the Black People’s Convention.

Articulate and charismatic, Steve Biko was one of the movement’s foremost instigators and prolific writers, empowering and mobilizing much of the urban black population. When the South African government understood the threat Black Consciousness posed to Apartheid, it worked to silence the movement and its leaders. They banished Biko to his home district in the Eastern Cape. He continued to build community development programs and have a strong political influence. After his death in police custody, he was hailed a martyr of the anti-apartheid movement.