Lecture on the Black Consciousness Movement in South Africa in the 1970s

Jun 6, 2024

Lecture on the Black Consciousness Movement in South Africa in the 1970s

Introduction

  • Speaker: Miss Mandakaze Nogasa, Provincial History Planner.
  • Topic: Black Consciousness Movement in South Africa during the 1970s.
  • Context: Part of Paper 2, Term 2 in the Grade 12 syllabus.

Examination Format

  • Appears as the first source-based question in Paper 1.
  • Contains both written and visual sources.
  • Tests multiple skills: extraction, interpretation, comparison, reliability, and paragraph writing.
  • Important to write notes next to each source to aid in paragraph writing without direct quoting.

Focus Areas

  1. Nature and Aims of Black Consciousness: Key Question: How did the Black Consciousness Movement challenge the apartheid state?
  2. Role of Steve Biko in promoting Black Consciousness:
    • Main proponent of Black Consciousness.
    • Conscientization of South Africans about Black Consciousness ideas.
  3. Detailed examination of Black Consciousness ideas and implementation.
  4. 1976 Student Uprising:
    • Influence of Black Consciousness ideas.
  5. Legacy of Black Consciousness:
    • Impact on South African politics and shaping of the country's political landscape.

Important Concepts

  1. Apartheid:
    • South Africa's policy of separate development under the National Party government.
  2. Civil Protest:
    • Opposition by ordinary citizens against unjust government policies.
  3. Black Consciousness:
    • Philosophy inspired by Steve Biko to instill pride and affirm the black South African identity.
  4. Ideology:
    • System of beliefs shaping one’s actions (e.g., Black Consciousness Movement ideology).
  5. Black Consciousness Movement:
    • Inclusive term for organizations embracing Black Consciousness ideology.

Background to the Black Consciousness Movement

  1. Political Landscape in the 1960s:
    • Post-Sharpeville Massacre, state repression, and new legislations suppressed protests.
    • Emergence of Black Consciousness during the mid-1960s.
  2. Influences on Steve Biko:
    • Influenced by Robert Sobukwe (leader of PAC), Civil Rights Movements in the USA, Black Power Movement, and decolonization in Africa.
    • Key figures: Malcolm X (black pride), Martin Luther King Jr. (civil rights), Pan-Africanists like Nkrumah and W.E.B. Du Bois (African unity).

Necessity for Black Consciousness in Late 1960s

  • Apartheid government’s policy of divide and rule through creation of homelands and urban planning.
  • Aim to divide black people to prevent unification.
  • Steve Biko’s mission was to see apartheid as a racist policy and promote black unity and self-reliance.

Main Aims of Black Consciousness

  1. Initiating as an Attitude of Mind: Not a political movement:
    • Advocated self-reliance, psychological freedom, and elimination of feelings of inferiority.
  2. Promoting Black Confidence:
    • Raising confidence for liberation.
    • Promoting pride in black identity, culture, and history.
  3. Challenging White Liberals:
    • Encouraged black people to take center stage in their own liberation.
  4. Nurturing Black Identity and Culture:
    • Preserving and protecting black culture.
  5. Advocating Self-Respect and Confidence:
    • Instilling values to face the oppressive apartheid system.
  6. Self-Reliance:
    • Encouraged self-reliance rather than depending on whites.
  7. Liberation of the Mind:
    • Promoting psychological freedom and equating oneself.
  8. Promoting Psychological Freedom:
    • Eliminating feelings of inferiority.

Quotes and Visual Sources

  • Example: Quote from Steve Biko, “The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.”

Influence of Ideology

  • Unified supporters of ANC and PAC for South Africa’s liberation.

Conclusion

  • Key takeaways: Nature and aims of Black Consciousness Movement.
  • Further lessons will cover the role of Steve Biko, influence during the 1976 uprising, and the legacy of Black Consciousness.
  • Worksheets provided: Work through sources and questions at home.

Study Tips

  • Take notes on each source to aid in question responses.
  • Understand and define difficult words using a dictionary.