Dear Ylva,
Thank you for this posting.IT gives a whole background picture of why the
situation for black people in SA is as it is right now.
But something that is some how disappointing here is that ,even though the
article is all about what Black Consciousness is,it deliver some criticism
of the political situation without saying a word about the fact that Black
political power is now contribute as much as any other forces to the
deteriorating condition of black people.It did not mention anything about
the contribution of the ANC to the present situation.Reading this article
one could at certain moment believe that we are still in that era before
black liberation.What happen to the victory ?
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From: Ylva Hernlund <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, November 04, 2000 6:24 PM
Subject: [AfricaMatters] THE RELEVANCE OF BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS (BC) IN THE
NEW SOUTH AFRICA. (fwd)
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Subject: [AfricaMatters] THE RELEVANCE OF BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS (BC) IN THE
NEW SOUTH AFRICA.
THE RELEVANCE OF BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS (BC) IN THE NEW SOUTH AFRICA.
AN ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF AZAPO CDE. PANDELANI NEFOLOVHODWE TO A
CULMINATION OF BIKO WEEK ON 16/09/2000 IN LENASIA.
1. Introduction
On September 12 1977, comrade Steven Bantu Biko died in detention under the
most brutal circumstances ever witnessed in apartheid South Africa. His
death became a rallying point for the total liberation of our fatherland.
Revolutionaries and human rights activists all over the world, became, more
than ever before, convinced that the white racist regime was a danger to the
entire humanity.
More importantly, the philosophy of Black Consciousness, of which Biko
helped develop, continued to spread throughout the country, especially
amongst the youth. Many young adherents and followers of Black Consciousness
joined the struggle in its many different manifestations. As a result, the
liberation struggle was rejuvenated and strengthened.
2. The Struggle
The struggle against the then White regime was in the first instance
directed against national oppression. National oppression that was a result
of colonialism. As we all know, White colonialist oppression in our country
led to the creation of norms, values including institutions geared at the
continued subjugation of Black people. A Euro-centric system was put into
place which negated all what Black people had achieved for many years before
the advent of colonialism.
Colonialism through institutions of oppression created a social, political
and economic system which was directed at enhancing white privileges and
continued subjugation of blacks. Political power was in the hands of whites,
the control of economic resources was in the hands of whites, the social
values and norms were those of the white society. The apartheid society was
in all respects white-controlled and ghettos and separate residential areas
for Blacks were created. Life became desperate for Black people. Black
people lived under the threat of evictions, their sons and daughters grew up
in jails. Many black families became increasingly incapable of feeding their
children. Poverty and hunger became the order of the day.
Of particular importance is that, psychological oppression became a
phenomenon in the psyche of black people and this created an inferiority
complex.
3. What Black Consciousness is?
In order to assess whether Black Consciousness is still or not relevant to
present day society we need to understand what Black Consciousness is. SASO
policy manifesto defines Black Consciousness as follows and I quote:
"Black Consciousness is an attitude of mind, a way of life"
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.
The black man must build up his own value systems, see himself as a self
-defined and not defined by others.
The concept of Black Consciousness implies the awareness by the black people
of the power they wield as a group both economically and politically and
hence group cohesion and solidarity are important facets of Black
Consciousness
Black Consciousness will always be enhanced by the totality of involvement
of the oppressed people, hence the message of Black Consciousness has to
spread to reach all sections of the Black community".
4. Black Consciousness and the System
Central to the philosophy of Black Consciousness is the struggle for total
emancipation both psychologically and physically. Black Consciousness
posited that every society strives to create a political, social and
economic framework around which the development and self actualisation of
human beings is achieved both individually and collectively. Black
Consciousness adherents chose to refer to the social, political and economic
framework as the "system". For that matter Black Consciousness adherents saw
the whole apartheid racist capitalists arrangement as system of controls
that needed to be overthrown and eradicated. Let us now pause and ask
ourselves whether we have eradicated the apartheid racist capitalist system.
5. Inheritance
When 1994 ushered in the first ever election for Black people, we inherited
the â?~system" with its norms, values, its parliament, its rituals and all
structures whose creation was meant to perpetuate oppression. We inherited
the army, the police and police men and women whose training and outlook is
consistent with the past. For that matter we also inherited the Western type
of democracy whose purpose is to enhance Western values and norms including
rules on how we should democratise our country. We have in this position,
also inherited white parties as well as Bantustan parties which are very
good at practising the politics of the past. Let us not forget that it is
these white parties that maintained a system of capitalist exploitation.
The capitalist system of production is the one that made them what they are
in the first place, and no wonder they continue to defend this system. We
have inherited an education system whose purpose is to create men and women
who can fit well in the wheel of capitalism. Black Consciousness on the
other hand regarded education dished out to black children as part and
parcel of instruments of control and subjugation.
Adherents of Black Consciousness knew that education in any given society is
always an instrument that is used by those who are in power to sustain
values and norms in societies. In other words, we learn those things that
make us "spanner boys and girls" of the particular society where we live,
and the knowledge we gain through education makes us capable of advancing
the political, social and economic activities of the "system" we create: In
our case at this moment in time, we are still living under a "system" that
alienated us from its framework.
5. Black Consciousness and Liberals and their Parties
Present day white liberals, just like those during apartheid, pursue a
non-racial approach, thereby playing their old game. They continue to claim
the monopoly over who should govern our country, how it should be governed
and what should be the rules of the game. They go further to claim the
monopoly of setting the pattern and pace for the realisation of black
peopleâ?Ts aspirations. In other words, they want to remain in good books
with
both the black and white world. They verbalise complaints of black people in
the most clever and articulate manner, (the Democratic Party is good at it)
while skilfully and arrogantly regrouping in order to continue championing
values and norms of the past including clinging to the leadership of the
very vehicle which they say is supposed to free Black people.
At the conference on racism, these self-appointed champions of the Black
cause were exposed for what they are. Whites should realise that the
"system" they had created has dehumanised them to the extent that they are
now incapable of understanding why Black people continue to call them
racists. That is why Black Consciousness posited that whites, by virtue of
the fact that they considered themselves superior, they developed a
superiority complex that continued to dictate their racist behaviour.
6. Black Consciousness and Community Development
I have decided to talk briefly about community development as envisaged by
the founders of Black Consciousness. Black Consciousness teaches us that
development is a process of determining oneâ?Ts own destiny and that of
communities we live. Black Consciousness further posits that Black people
should understand that it is them alone who can determine their own destiny.
Moving from this premise, community development and community involvement as
well as a spirit of self-reliance are cornerstones of what we are all called
upon to do.
The success of community development is judged by the way in which it is
capable of transforming the material conditions under which the poor live,
into something better, and its ability to enable the poor to sustain life.
This aspect of Black Consciousness has never received much attention.
Through community development, the involvement of poor people in their own
development and advancement, it is envisaged that the poor will determine
their own destiny thereby start a process of liberating themselves from all
forms of oppression.
In this way the words of comrade Bantu Biko are relevant and I quote:
"We have set out on a quest for true humanity, and somewhere in the distant
horizon we can see the glittering prize. Let us march forth with courage and
determination, drawing strength from our common plight and our brotherhood.
In time we shall be in a position to bestow upon South Africa the greatest
gift possible - a more human face".
7. Conclusion
The relevance of Black Consciousness therefore lies in the fact that the
"glittering prize" has not as yet been achieved. Black people are still
faced with poverty and starvation. Black people still need to eradicate
racism, capitalist exploitation and their lives still needs to be
qualitatively enhanced.
Because Black Consciousness is a way of life, it therefore means it is a
continuous philosophy and its relevance therefore is unquestionable for as
long as society exists.
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