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Steven Biko

Steven Biko Quotes

Activist

Steven Biko was a prominent anti-apartheid activist in South Africa, born on December 18, 1946, and died on September 12, 1977. He actively advocated for the rights and dignity of black people under the apartheid system and was a significant figure in the black liberation movement in South Africa.

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Famous Steven Biko Quotes

“Part of the approach envisaged in bringing about Black Consciousness has to be directed to the past, to seek to rewrite the history of the black man and to produce in it the heroes who form the core of the African background”

Men Past Form Black Consciousness Produce Hero Approach Core Backgrounds Black Consciousness

Author:Steven Biko

“In all fields black consciousness seeks to talk to the black man in a language that is his own”

Men Language Black Consciousness Fields Black Consciousness

Author:Steven Biko

“The most potent weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.”

Mind Weapons Historical Human Rights Oppression Oppressed Oppressors Black Consciousness

Author:Steven Biko

“Being black is not a matter of pigmentation - being black is a reflection of a mental attitude.”

Matter Black Attitude Reflection Self Reflection Mental Attitude Pigment Black Consciousness

Author:Steven Biko

“Merely by describing yourself as black you have started on a road towards emancipation, you have committed yourself to fight against all forces that seek to use your blackness as a stamp that marks you out as a subservient being.”

Use Fighting Force Black Mark Committed Stamps Describing Emancipation Blackness Subservient Black Consciousness Describe Yourself

Author:Steven Biko

“You are either alive and proud or you are dead, and when you are dead, you can't care anyway.”

Care Alive Proud Black Consciousness Dead Alive

Book:Steve Biko: Black Consciousness in South Africa

Source: Steve Biko: Black Consciousness in South Africa

“So as a prelude whites must be made to realise that they are only human, not superior. Same with Blacks. They must be made to realise that they are also human, not inferior.”

Humans Made Superiors Realising Inferiors Prelude Black Consciousness

Author:Steven Biko

“Black Consciousness is an attitude of the mind and a way of life, the most positive call to emanate from the black world for a long time.”

World Way Mind Long Black Consciousness Attitude Positive Long Time Emanate Black Consciousness

Author:Steven Biko

“The basic tenet of black consciousness is that the black man must reject all value systems that seek to make him a foreigner in the country of his birth and reduce his basic human dignity.”

Men Humans Country Values Black Consciousness Birth Dignity Rejects Foreigners Human Dignity Value Systems Personal Dignity Black Consciousness

Book:Steve Biko: Black Consciousness in South Africa

Source: Steve Biko: Black Consciousness in South Africa

“In time, we shall be in a position to bestow on South Africa the greatest possible gift - a more human face.”

Humans Faces Time Position South South Africa Human Faces Black Consciousness

Author:Steven Biko

“Black Consciousness is in essence the realization by the black man of the need to rally together with his brothers around the cause of their oppression.”

Men Needs Together Causes Black Consciousness Brother Essence Oppression Realization Black Consciousness

Author:Steven Biko

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

Ideas Dies Black Consciousness

Author:Steven Biko

“We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our birth. These are concepts which the Black Consciousness approach wishes to eradicate from the black man's mind before our society is driven to chaos by irresponsible people from Coca-cola and hamburger cultural backgrounds.”

“Black Consciousness is an attitude of the mind and a way of life, the most positive call to emanate from the black world for a long time. Its essence is the realisation by the black man of the need to rally together with his brothers around the cause of their oppression - the blackness of their skin - and to operate as a group to rid themselves of the shackles that bind them to perpetual servitude.”

“What Black Consciousness seeks to do is to produce real black people who do not regard themselves as appendages to white society. We do not need to apologise for this because it is true that the white systems have produced through the world a number of people who are not aware that they too are people.”

People World Needs Real Black White Numbers Consciousness Produce Regard Black People Black Consciousness

Author:Steven Biko

“Black Consciousness therefore takes cognizance of the deliberateness of God's plan in creating Black people black.”

People Black Consciousness Plans Creating Black People God's Plan Black Consciousness

Author:Steven Biko

About the Author

Born: December 18, 1946
Died: September 12, 1977
Known for: Activist
Quotes: 53

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Black Black Consciousness Men People Consciousness Humans Ifs Way Attitude Believe Community Country Evil Groups Mind Needs Problem Should South South Africa

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Steve Biko: Black Consciousness in South AfricaRelated source material

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