IEB HISTORY TOPIC 4
NB VOCAB FOR THIS SECTION
Apartheid – system of social, political and economic separation and oppression based
on race. From 1948 – 1994
• National Party Government came into 1948
Black Consciousness - ideology that was developed after 1968 that blacks had to
liberate themselves psychologically from the e>ects of racism and they also wanted to
reject all ‘white values’
Civil Disobedience – people deliberately break the law as part of a political campaign
NB ACRONYMS
BC - Black Consciousness
BPC – Black People’s Convention
BCM - Black Consciousness Movement
SASO - South African Student’s Organisation
SCM – Students Christian Movement
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BACKGROUND – 1960s
END 60s: South African National Party Government was very strong – had political
power and they were able to easily crush any resistance
à economy was booming
à manufacturing growth
• White people – seen as superior , were favoured, wealthy and majority support
the National Party (NP)
CALLED: THE SILENT SIXTIES
à no resistance against the apartheid state
SHARPVILLE MASSACRE (21 MARCH 1960)
• Sharpeville = black township
EVENTS OF THE DAY: the situation started as a peaceful protest against apartheid
• Police open fire on the crowd
à 69 dead
à180 wounded
• One of the first more violent uprising against apartheid
RESULT: NP government created the Unlawful Organisations Act of 1960
à this act banned anti – apartheid organisations
EARLY 70s
à new resistance emerged
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE 70s
• Economy declined in 1973 – this was due to the world oil crisis (middle east
raised the price of oil)
• Lack of skilled people (Bantu education system was beginning to show)
1973 – many strikes à the workers were dissatisfied
1975- Mozambique and Angola fought for independence
à they were liberated from control and were able to now run their government and
make decisions for their own country
• Allowed the ANC and PAC to establish bases in these countries , they were now
able to operate closer to SA
à gave the people hope, they began to believe that ‘freedom was lapping on SA’s
borders’
1978- PW Botha took brutal actions to assert control over the people
à police and army had to crush resistance and try to increase oppression
à had to eliminate those who challenged the government
• Thambo, Slovo, Mbeki now lead the ANC
• The ANC in exile l gained international support for their sanctions against South
Africa
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à according to the UN : ANC = the o>icial representatives of black people in SA
BLACK CONCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT
IMPORTANCE
• Influence political thinking and civil society in South Africa
• Banning of ANC and PAC (after Sharpeville massacre)
à This left a power vacuum in SA for black liberation movement
STEVE BIKO
• Driving force behind BC
• Born: King William’s town Eastern Cape
• 1966: university to study medicine
à became involved with National union of SA students (NUSAS)
à this union was dominated by white people
à didn’t really acknowledge black students
1968: resigned from NUSAS and founded the SA Students Organisation (SASO)
Aim of SASO: get funding for medical clinics for Africans
1972: founded Black Peoples Convention (BPC)
à aim: stop Apartheid
à Biko was the first president
ORGANISATIONS STEVE BIKO WAS INVOLVED IN
• President SASO 1969
• Join black people’s organisation
• Created a new branch of BCP (Black community programmes)
• Black consciousness
• Inspired formation of SASM (SA student movement)
• NAYO formed (National Association of Youth Organisation)
All of these movements were important in the Soweto uprising
INFLUENCE BIKO HAD (who influenced him)
• Black power movement/Black Panthers
• Also buy their leaders Stokey Carmichael and Malcolm X
à Wanted black pride and solidarity
àHe copied these groups he believed in
àa no to racism and raise assertiveness
àHe believed in self-reliance amongst black people