Bcm
In the 1960s , a political vacuum was created after the apartheid government banned
the ANC and PAC ,Many leaders were arrested,sent to prison or forced into
exile,leaving a gap in political leadership. The government also made it illegal
for people to hold political meetings or protests. This meant there was no strong
political movement to fight against apartheid during this time. The Black
Consciousness Movement,led by Steve Biko ,later filled this vacuum by inspiring
black people to stand up for their rights.
The Black Consciousness philosophy instilled black South Africans with self- belief
to challenge the apartheid state,infused black South Africans with sense of pride,
influenced black South Africans to accept themselves with self confidence,self
reliance,sense of identity,empowered black South Africans to reject the spirit of
self pity,inferiority complex, self alienation and domination by external
forces,Black South Africans would stop using skin lightening products and keep Afro
hairstyles. They adopted the slogan ‘Black is Beautiful’
In 1968 ,black students wanted to resist white control and broke away from NUSAS to
form SASO because NUSAS was white dominated, as Biko felt they should not relay on
white liberals for liberation. SASO led by Steve Biko was based on Black
Consciousness ideas ,encouraging black students to believe in themselves.
University students joined SASO
A number of SASO members had become teachers as they graduated, they thẹn
influenced their learners with BC ideas and the impact was great to the youth in
the townships. The SASM provided leadership to high school learners by 1973 SASM
had established nine branches in Soweto Schools.SASM later produced their own
Militant newspaper called’THRUST’ ,SASM leaders were Tsietsi Mashinini and Murphy
Morobe . The Soweto Students Representative Council was formed as a result of SASM
in the early 1970s included Tsietsi Mashinini as president.
The arrest of Black Consciousness leaders made more people aware of the struggle
and increased political activism. In 1972,the Black People’s Convention by SASO ,it
was formed to unite students,churches,communities and trade unions. BPC was aimed
to spread the ideas of Black Consciousness to adult and the working class.it was
able to unite Africans,Coloureds and Indians fight against apartheid. BPC became an
umbrella body for organisations fighting against apartheid. BPC also established a
number of political and community based organisations like zanempilo community
health centres in 1975, it was the first primary health care for Africans in South
Africa,zimele Trust fund which assisted African house With bursaries and Adult
based illiteracy which helped Africans with education. Steve Biko focused on these
program is after being banned from his home town King Williamstown . This resulted
in more protest and resistance took place across the country.
The black consciousness movement also influence the workers by encouraging them to
unite and fight for their rights. trade unions like black allies worker’s unions
and black parents association were formed to support workers. These unions helped
organise workers to demand the better wages and working conditions. A number of
strikes broke out in the early 1970s , leading to the 1973 strike by tile workers
in Durban striking to protest unfair treatment. these strikes showed the growing
resistance against apartheid.
In 1974 , SASO and BCM organised the VIVA FRELIMO rallies to celebrate Mozambique’s
independence from Portugal. These rallies Spy hat black South Africans to Believe
that freedom from white control was possible. despite this, black consciousness
continued to encourage young black people to stand up against apartheid . This
later influenced the 1976 Soweto Uprising.
Learners in Soweto had several grievances regarding education. The government spent
In the 1960s , a political vacuum was created after the apartheid government banned
the ANC and PAC ,Many leaders were arrested,sent to prison or forced into
exile,leaving a gap in political leadership. The government also made it illegal
for people to hold political meetings or protests. This meant there was no strong
political movement to fight against apartheid during this time. The Black
Consciousness Movement,led by Steve Biko ,later filled this vacuum by inspiring
black people to stand up for their rights.
The Black Consciousness philosophy instilled black South Africans with self- belief
to challenge the apartheid state,infused black South Africans with sense of pride,
influenced black South Africans to accept themselves with self confidence,self
reliance,sense of identity,empowered black South Africans to reject the spirit of
self pity,inferiority complex, self alienation and domination by external
forces,Black South Africans would stop using skin lightening products and keep Afro
hairstyles. They adopted the slogan ‘Black is Beautiful’
In 1968 ,black students wanted to resist white control and broke away from NUSAS to
form SASO because NUSAS was white dominated, as Biko felt they should not relay on
white liberals for liberation. SASO led by Steve Biko was based on Black
Consciousness ideas ,encouraging black students to believe in themselves.
University students joined SASO
A number of SASO members had become teachers as they graduated, they thẹn
influenced their learners with BC ideas and the impact was great to the youth in
the townships. The SASM provided leadership to high school learners by 1973 SASM
had established nine branches in Soweto Schools.SASM later produced their own
Militant newspaper called’THRUST’ ,SASM leaders were Tsietsi Mashinini and Murphy
Morobe . The Soweto Students Representative Council was formed as a result of SASM
in the early 1970s included Tsietsi Mashinini as president.
The arrest of Black Consciousness leaders made more people aware of the struggle
and increased political activism. In 1972,the Black People’s Convention by SASO ,it
was formed to unite students,churches,communities and trade unions. BPC was aimed
to spread the ideas of Black Consciousness to adult and the working class.it was
able to unite Africans,Coloureds and Indians fight against apartheid. BPC became an
umbrella body for organisations fighting against apartheid. BPC also established a
number of political and community based organisations like zanempilo community
health centres in 1975, it was the first primary health care for Africans in South
Africa,zimele Trust fund which assisted African house With bursaries and Adult
based illiteracy which helped Africans with education. Steve Biko focused on these
program is after being banned from his home town King Williamstown . This resulted
in more protest and resistance took place across the country.
The black consciousness movement also influence the workers by encouraging them to
unite and fight for their rights. trade unions like black allies worker’s unions
and black parents association were formed to support workers. These unions helped
organise workers to demand the better wages and working conditions. A number of
strikes broke out in the early 1970s , leading to the 1973 strike by tile workers
in Durban striking to protest unfair treatment. these strikes showed the growing
resistance against apartheid.
In 1974 , SASO and BCM organised the VIVA FRELIMO rallies to celebrate Mozambique’s
independence from Portugal. These rallies Spy hat black South Africans to Believe
that freedom from white control was possible. despite this, black consciousness
continued to encourage young black people to stand up against apartheid . This
later influenced the 1976 Soweto Uprising.
Learners in Soweto had several grievances regarding education. The government spent
