Wednesday, September 12, 2007

REMEMBERING STEVE BANTU BIKO


Steve Bantu Biko, who died on this very same day (12 September) 30 years ago, was a noted anti-apartheid activist in Mzansi in the 1960s and early 1970s. A student leader, he later founded the Black Consciousness Movement which would empower and mobilize much of the urban black population. Since his death in police custody, he has been called a martyr of the anti-apartheid movement. While living, his writings and activism attempted to empower blacks (and succeeded by many accounts), and he was famous for his slogan "black is beautiful", which he described as meaning: "man, you are okay as you are, begin to look upon yourself as a human being". We asked Zenzile Khoisan, a renowned journalist and cultural thinker, to put together a poem in commemoration of Steve Bantu Biko:

FOR BIKO, AN EVERGREEN SIGNPOST ON A BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY

Three decades have now passed, the blood has dried
on cell 619, but the searing image of your defiance
dignified rejection of mediocrity, eloquent counterpoint
to book burners, intellectual savages, residents of the abyss

Bantu Steven Biko, brilliant lighthouse illuminating the path
in confusing, turbulent times, your simple credo, of self respect
still stirs the embers of our resistant, idealistic souls
we refuse to dismount for charlatans, carpetbaggers

Biko, father of the South African conscience
field marshall of what's left of the pieces of a precious dream
fortress of our resolve, our spirit of no surrender
Your were, and evermore remain, the real thing.

Zenzile Khoisan


[Zenzile Khoisan is a published author and poet. He currently serves as the Editor of arts and culture magazine, Rootz Africa]


Famous Quotes from Steve Biko


"The logic behind white domination is to prepare the black man for the subservient role in this country. Not so long ago this used to be freely said in parliament, even about the educational system of the black people. It is still said even today, although in a much more sophisticated language. To a large extent the evil-doers have succeeded in producing at the output end of their machine a kind of black man who is man only in form. This is the extent to which the process of dehumanisation has advanced." — "We Blacks"

"The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed." — "White Racism and Black Consciousness", in I Write What I Like

"It is better to die for an idea that will live, than to live for an idea that will die."

"The system concedes nothing without demand, for it formulates its very method of operation on the basis that the ignorant will learn to know, the child will grow into an adult and therefore demands will begin to be made. It gears itself to resist demands in whatever way it sees fit." — "The Quest for a True Humanity",

"In time, we shall be in a position to bestow on South Africa the greatest possible gift—a more human face."White Racism and Black Consciousness", in I Write What I Like


Steve Biko's internationally renowned book "I Write What I Like" can be found in all good bookstores around the country.

12 comments:

jermaine said...

Aaah the ease of being alive in this day and age of man...
I only feel a deep sense of frustration that can't be expressed in any way, for the wrong doing of others. Fortunately though their unjust actions shall be dealt with. I believe in Karma.
Long live our forefather's spirit; the black liberation movement's pioneer, may His soul rest in peace For we now grasp the depth of his concsiousness - His last source of hope for this scorned nation. His words will be food and guidance forever.

Anonymous said...

Hey i am suuper boy

Anonymous said...

torebki młodzieżowe
to torby damskie , torby młodzieżowe , torebki mlodziezowe . torebki młodzieżowe , kazar torebki ?

Anonymous said...

sеnsual massage іѕ an ancіеnt heаlіng also used somеtime whiсh is honorable for removing
dead ѕkins and toxins that stuck in the cellphonе ροrеs.


My site; web site

Anonymous said...

Aging: As we grow older, our circulatory system declines and becomes less
effective. Cholesterol clogs arteries and allows less blood flow to.

Usually this product can be taken about 60 minutes before sexual activity.


Stop by my website :: buy Viagra Boots

Anonymous said...

The libido of men can be down due to various
reasons. The resulting erections can be slightly less
firm than when you were younger. Older people
suffer more from sexual dysfunction compared to
younger people.

Stop by my weblog - Drew

Anonymous said...

I used to be able to find good info from your content.


My site ... Buy Viagra 25mg

Anonymous said...

Hello to every single one, it's genuinely a good for me to go to see this web page, it contains helpful Information.

my web blog: USA Viagra

Anonymous said...

Every person has actually got their very own preferences and inclinations when
it comes to selecting towel rails. Despite the kind of towel
warmers that numerous individuals might like, this
post will certainly be able to offer you crucial ideas that
should guide you in to picking the very best one that will fit your necessities.
The first thing that you must understand when picking these items is that the marketplace is fulled of
an assortment of non-heated or routine and heated rails.
By checking out the key ins that are highlighted in
the complying with paragraphs, you are able to make the correct decision on the one that satisfies your needs.



Also visit my web page :: DQ Heating Siena Towel Rail

Anonymous said...

People call me Dusty and I originate from Florida in the USA - I am a freshman
who studies Physics and I also operate a top quality domain about Ordering Viagra Online,
and also other related issues like apple ipod 5th generation
16gb sale, food allergies in infants, and best free ipad apps.
This problem is convenient with the usage of drugs including phosphodiesterase- 5 inhibitors
(PDE-5). Usual labels for medicines in this category are Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra,
and all call for a prescription to acquire. There are no impacts from this medicine in the absence of sex-related stimulation.

Anonymous said...

The majority of loan applications by people with bad credit are declined
by loan providers. With a bad credit payday loan it is created for individuals with bad credit and almost
everyone is accepted.

my blog :: Missouri Payday Loans

Anonymous said...

It guarantees that your website ranks greater in Google.
This is the reason as to why video clip sites are more likely to rate on the very first web page of a search engine outcome when contrasted to content based websites which are much less most likely to
obtain the very same rank.

Some of the best knowledge about Article Content Spinner
can be discovered by visiting this site:- Article Content Spinner.