“The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed” - Steve Biko
(Steve Biko)
Steve Biko was born as Stephen Biko on December 18th, 1946 in Ginsberg Township, South Africa. In 1950 his father died. In 1964 he attended a prestigious boarding school in Alice, Eastern Cape. Biko was expelled from the school due to his political views.
(Biko as a teenager)
He then attended St. Francis college in Mariannhill, Natal. He studied in the medical field to be a doctor. In the 1960’s Biko was apart of the National Union of South African Students. He later founded the South African Students' Organization (SASO). In 1968 Biko was elected its president. SASO then evolved into the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM).
(Biko on 1968)
In 1970 he married Ntsiki Mashalaba. In 1972 he was expelled from St. Francis for his political views.
(Biko in 1972)
In 1973 the Apartheid government banned him from speaking to more than 1 person at a time in public. In 1976 he organized protests in Soweto.
(Biko in 1976)
In 1977 Biko was arrested under the Terrorism Act No 83 of 1967. When he was interrogated he was beaten and tortured. They then put him in the back of a police wagon naked and drove him 680 miles to a prison with hospital facilities. On September 12th, 1977 Steve Biko died of his injuries from the police officers in Pretoria, South Africa. He was 30 years old.
(Biko’s Funeral)
Today is the 39th anniversary of his death. Take time to remember this great activist today.
Videos of Steve Biko
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNmAcgdO2Ck “Steve Biko - rare TV interview”
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoNGCSgWQEQ “The Life and Death of Steven Biko”
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