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Biko valued black life

On the 30/30 celebration of the life and legacy of Steve Biko, one cannot help but feel proud of being African and South African in particular.

On the 30/30 celebration of the life and legacy of Steve Biko, one cannot help but feel proud of being African and South African in particular.

Africa has always been the breeding ground of greatness. When one thinks of Biko, you see him in the same light as Nelson Mandela, Patrice Lumumba, Kwame Nkrumah, etc.

Biko's philosophy of Black Consciousness did not define what it means to be black, it brought value to being black. In an era where ignorance and being uncivilised were commonly associated with being black, it was Biko who chose to redefine it and bring meaning to being black. He created an awareness and a sense of pride in the black man. In the midst of a demeaning environment Biko helped us to stand together and to challenge a regime that would otherwise not recognise us as equal. It went beyond the celebration of pigmentation.

Brandon Bailey

By e-mail

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