Steve Biko

by Lindy Wilson

Steve Biko inspired a generation of black South Africans to claim their true identity and refuse to be a part of their own oppression. Through his example, he demonstrated fearlessness and self-esteem, and he led a black student movement countrywide that challenged and thwarted the culture of fear perpetuated by the apartheid regime. He paid the highest price with his life. The brutal circumstances of his death shocked the world and helped isolate his oppressors. This short biography of Biko shows how fundamental he was to the reawakening and transformation of South Africa in the second half of the twentieth century—and just how relevant he remains. Biko’s understanding of black consciousness as a weapon of change could not be more relevant today to “restore people to their full humanity.” As an important historical study, this book’s main sources were unique interviews done in 1989—before the end of apartheid—by the author with Biko’s acquaintances, many of whom have since died.

Genres: South Africa, Africa, Biography

160 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2011

Reviews

[JRT · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short biography provides a taste of the life and impact of South African revolutionary, Bantu Steven Biko. Biko was an eloquent, intelligent, passionate, and principled leader in the South African “Black Consciousness” movement—which sought to mobilize against and combat the cultural and psychological anti-Blackness imposed by Apartheid. Biko believed that “the most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed,” and thus warned Black South Africans to “not be a part of your own oppression.” Black South Africans could avoid being a part of their own oppression by bravely resisting the inferiority complexes violently imposed on them by the white supremacist government, and by claiming a revolutionary identify rooted in their own culture.

It is notable that, as the author pointed out, at the time of his death (police assassination, more specifically) Biko sought to unite the Black Consciousness movement with the political powerhouses of the African National Congress (ANC) and Pan African Congress (PNC), with the ultimate goal of building institutionalized Black political power capable of attacking every aspect of white supremacist oppression. The threat Biko posed was crystal clear. Biko’s intellect, leadership, and vision for Black South Africans inspired all who he touched, and continues to inspire today.

[Mare · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is poorly written in every imaginable way - its syntax and grammar are bizarre, it provides very little historical context, it uses acronyms frequently without any explanation of their meaning. I am not sure if it was written in another language and suffers from a poor translation. Even the chronology is muddled. It reads as if the author took notes while reading a more exhaustive biography of Biko and then hadthe notes published. I am going to get another Biko book because I feel like I gained no knowledge from this one. Two stars because Steve Biko is a badass.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindy Wilson has written a valuable short and evocative bio that conveys the compassion, vision and feeling of this great man. An inspiring read.

[Tshepo G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lindy Wilson did this pocket book justice. Well written.

[Scott Roellig · Rating 1 out of 5]

Writing wasn’t bad but Biko? Joke. I so tire of men like him being lauded as something special while in the end he was just as bad as his oppressors...even worse in the end. At least his oppressors didn’t pretend to be something else while he presented to care about his fellow oppressed all the time defining oppressed to only include men.