MOHAMMED AMIR PATEL

HISTORY ASSIGNMENT

DUE DATE:7 MAY 2025

GRADE 12
CONTENTS PAGE

Planning
Introduction
Background Information
Essay
Conclusion
Evaluation and Reflection
Visual Sources
Bibliography
Planning

•The role of Steve Biko

•Steve Biko became involved in the activities of NUSAS.

•Formation of SASA

•Influencing high school students

•Formation of SASM

•The SASM was set up by young activists.

•On June 1976 students mobilized against the apartheid

government

•The issue of Afrikaans became the final spark that led to the
Soweto Uprising.
Essay
The Philosophy of Black Consciousness influenced the Soweto uprising of 1976
due to factors such as SASO inspiring and mobilizing black students by
providing a platform for political activism, which played a significant role in
shaping the Soweto uprising. Additionally, Steve Biko instilled a feeling of Black
pride, self-reliance, and self-confidence, which ignited the spark in Black
students to voice their objections. This essay extensively discusses how the
philosophy of Black Consciousness influenced the Soweto uprising of 1976.

The Black Consciousness Movement was a grassroots anti-apartheid activist

movement that emerged in South Africa in the mid-1960s out of the political
vacuum created by the jailing and banning of the African National Congress and
Pan African Congress leadership after the Sharpeville Massacre in 1960. Black
Consciousness (BC) is an attitude of mind that can broaden into a philosophy
and way of life. Black Consciousness is a philosophy based on the belief that
blacks must be proud of being black. They must not depend on whites and help
each other without the assistance of whites. By being involved in political
campaigns and black community projects to gain political freedom, for blacks to
achieve freedom they must remove fear and inferiority complex. The BC had a
great appeal to youth and that led to the formation of student movements. This
strong appeal led to the Soweto uprising of 1976, which brought an end to
apartheid in South Africa.

Steve Biko played a central role in the Black Consciousness movement, which
influenced the Soweto uprising. Biko developed the concept of Black
Consciousness (BC) because he wanted to bring about change in the lives of
Black people. He wanted Black people to have pride, a feeling of self-reliance,
self-confidence, and a strong Black identity and self-esteem. In his book "I Write
What I Like," Steve Biko wrote that "Being Black is not a matter of pigmentation;
being Black is a reflection of a mental attitude" to inspire Black people to
empower themselves to fight for their rights and to be proud of being Black. He
further explained the importance of unity for the Black Consciousness Movement,
stating that "Black Consciousness is in essence the realization by the Black
person of the need to rally together with their brothers... and to operate as a
group in order to rid themselves of the shackles that bind them to perpetual
servitude.As a student, leader, and political activist, Biko played an empowering
role by promoting the philosophy that "Black is Beautiful," arguing that an
oppressed person must first believe that they are worthy of freedom and equality
before they can truly be free. Biko recognized the power that could come from
organizing as Black people. Because of Biko, Black Consciousness spread
widely among the youth and was a major spark in igniting the 1976 Soweto
Uprising, leading to a resurgence in the natural freedom movement. Above all,
Biko wanted Black people to understand the power of mental emancipation and
to establish Black community projects for themselves to overcome the feeling of
self-pity, self-alienation, and external forces caused by the apartheid regime. This
inspired a feeling of power and resistance against the repressive laws that were
passed, which resulted in the Soweto Uprising of 1976. Hence, the philosophy of
Black Consciousness influenced the Soweto Uprising as it brought a feeling of
Black pride, self-reliance, self-confidence, and Black identity, which was a major
spark in igniting the 1976 Soweto Uprising.

Steve Biko broke away from NUSAS (National Union of South African Students).
He concluded that black students needed their own organization, not one that
identified with white liberals. His use of the word "black" included all people of
color suffering under apartheid's racial discrimination. When NUSAS accepted
separate residences and eating facilities for different races at Rhodes University,
Biko's frustration led him to form a breakaway group of black students. NUSAS
was dominated by whites who wanted to maintain the status quo and keep blacks
as second-rate citizens. As a result, Steve Biko and others broke away from
NUSAS, wanting black students to be treated equally in universities. This ignited
the spark of the 1976 Soweto Uprising.Steve Biko and his colleagues felt that
Biko's involvement in NUSAS was to empower blacks to take part in
organizations, not letting them be dominated by white liberals. Biko broke away
from NUSAS after realizing that NUSAS could not defend and promote black
interests. Biko became disillusioned with how organizations treated black South
African students. The final straw for Biko was when NUSAS organized a
conference at which the black South African students were not accommodated in
the residence around the conference site. This was a turning point in the history
of black support for NUSAS. As a result, Biko left NUSAS to emphasize black
pride, self-determination, and collective action. The philosophy of BC influenced
the Soweto Uprising of 1976.
Biko and other like-minded black students formed the South African Students
Organisation (SASO). Biko now had an organization in which his ideas regarding
Black Consciousness (BC) could flourish. SASO was launched at the University
of Turfloop on July 1, 1969. SASO was based on the philosophy of BC, which
encouraged blacks to recognize their inherent dignity and self-worth. SASO
played a major role in influencing the Soweto Uprising as it instilled self-defense
in black students against the unjust apartheid laws. In July 1971, SASO's Policy
Manifesto stated that BC is an attitude of mind, a way of life. The basic tenets of
BC are that the Black man must reject all value systems that seek to make him a
foreigner in his birth country and reduce his basic dignity. The Black man must
build up his own value system as defined by himself and not defined by others.
The manifesto spelled out that SASO was a black students' organization,
"working for the liberation of the black man first from psychological oppression
which was inflicted upon him through an inferiority complex and secondly from
physical oppression living in a racist white society." Steve Biko mobilized Black
South Africans to challenge the apartheid government by igniting the spark of
resistance which influenced the Soweto Uprising. Driven by an assertive spirit,
SASO introduced community cum-political projects. Therefore, the South African
Students Organisation (SASO) used the philosophy of BC to inspire and motivate
students to participate in the Soweto Uprising of 1976. The organization
emphasized black pride, collective action, and personal and social
transformation, which were influential in shaping the actions and motivations of
the students who participated in the uprising.

The South African Students Movement (SASM) was set up by young activists
which was an offshoot of BCM. The South African Student Movement played a
significant role in influencing the Soweto uprising. The SASM was a student-led
organization that was dedicated to fighting against the apartheid government's
policies of forced assimilation & segregation. The SASM was a coalition of
various student organizations that had come together to co-ordinate their efforts
& strengthen the student movement. The SASM played a significant role in the
Soweto Uprising of 1976 by providing the organizational structure & political
leadership that helped inspire & coordinate the protests. One of the key reasons
for the formation of the SASM was the government's decision to make Afrikaans a
compulsory subject for all students. The SASM & other student organizations
organized protests and boycotts against the Afrikaans-only policy & the SASM
played a key role in coordinating these efforts. The philosophy of Black
Consciousness helped to challenge the apartheid policies & to demand greater
political & social rights for black South Africans and it played a key role in the
Soweto Uprising & the broader struggle for apartheid. The philosophy of BC
helped to inspire a new generation of black activists to reject the racist ideologies
of the apartheid regime. Hence, the SASM used the philosophy of Black
Consciousness to inspire & mobilize students and other activists in the struggle
against apartheid which played a key role in the Soweto Uprising.

Student leaders such as Tsietsi Mashinini and Murphy Morobe played major roles
in influencing the students of Soweto. They were two important figures in the
Soweto Uprising, which played a significant role in the South African struggle
against apartheid. Tsietsi Mashinini was a young student leader and member of
the South African Students' Movement (SASM) who became a leading figure in
the uprising. On June 16, 1976, he addressed a group of students at Morris
Isaacson High School on the issue relating to the forced use of Afrikaans in
schools. His speech inspired the students, who began to protest. His leadership
and influence helped to spark the Soweto Uprising.Murphy Morobe was another
important figure in the SASM who played a role in the Soweto Uprising. He was a
student at Morris Isaacson High School and a member of the SASM. Morobe was
involved in organizing the protests against the forced use of Afrikaans and was
one of the students who spoke out against the government's policies during the
uprising. Therefore, together Mashinini and Morobe helped to inspire and
organize the Soweto Uprising, and their leadership and influence played a
significant role in the events of that day. Their actions helped to galvanize
resistance against the apartheid government's policies of forced assimilation and
segregation and to inspire those who fought for racial justice and equality.

In 1975, the minister of Education introduced a policy that made Afrikaans

compulsory as a medium of teaching & learning. Afrikaans was one of the 12
official languages of SA & it was used as a medium of instruction in many
schools, including those in Soweto. However, the language was seen by many
black students as a symbol of the apartheid system & an attempt to perpetuate
the oppression of black people. In 1978 the SA government made Afrikaans a
compulsory subject for black students, sparking widespread protests. Many
students felt that they were forced to learn a language that they did not
understand & that was used to oppress them. It helped black students in realizing
that by making Afrikaans a compulsory subject, it was a way to further entrench
the apartheid system & deny them access to education which led to students
protesting as it was a symbol of oppression & an attempt to erase their culture &
language, hence igniting the spark to the Soweto uprising of 1976. The protests
against the introduction of Afrikaans were led by student organizations, including
SASO & BCM. The protests were characterized by widespread strikes, boycotts &
demonstrations. The philosophy of BC encouraged black students to resist the
use of Afrikaans to assert their right to education in their own language. This
message was well received by many black students to resist the use of Afrikaans
as a way to deny them access to education & to limit their opportunities, which
emphasized the importance of black self-determination, ultimately leading to the
Soweto Uprising. Hence, the issue of Afrikaans played a significant role in the
Soweto uprising as it symbolized the government's attempt to perpetuate the
oppression of black people, which ignited the spark for black students to
mobilize & take action. Galvenise- shock or excite into taking action.

The Black People's Convention was formed in 1972. It aimed at spreading the
ideas of Black Consciousness to adults & working class Black South Africans.
Hence the main aim of BC was to liberate the Black South Africans from physical
& psychological oppression. The Black People's Convention embarked on a
variety of projects designed to give practical meaning to the philosophy of Black
Consciousness. Some of the key projects that the BPC embarked on include:
Education. The BPC saw education as a key means of empowering black people
& promoting the development of black leadership which played a key role in
influencing the Soweto Uprising. Adult literacy became an important part of BPC
programs. It was an effort to combat illiteracy among Black South Africans. The
BPC recognized the importance of good health for the physical & mental well-
being of black people, & it established a number of health clinics & community
health programs. Economic development: the BPC recognized that economic
development was essential for the empowerment of black people & it sought to
promote black-owned businesses & co-operatives. The organization also wanted
to promote black participation in the labor movement & to challenge the
discriminatory practices of employers, hence using the philosophy of BC &
promoting black participation in labor movement ultimately influenced the
Soweto Uprising. The BPC also believed that community development was
essential for the empowerment of black people & it established a number of
community centers & cultural programs. The organization also worked to
promote the development of black cultural traditions & to celebrate the
achievement of black people; all these campaigns were aimed to conscientize
black people, which ultimately provoked them to stand up against the apartheid
laws hence influencing the Soweto Uprising. Therefore, due to the organization's
work, it helped to inspire a generation of black activists & lay the foundation for
the eventual demise of apartheid in SA, due to it influencing the Soweto Uprising
of 1976.

The formation of the Black Allied Workers Union (BAWU) was founded in 1972.
The BAWU was a trade union that sought to empower black workers and fight
against the discrimination they faced in the workplace. The BAWU used the
philosophy of black consciousness to inspire and mobilize workers to demand
better working conditions, higher wages & union recognition. They also used the
philosophy of black consciousness to challenge the idea that black people were
inferior to promote a sense of pride & self-worth among black workers, ultimately
leading to the events of the Soweto Uprising.During the Soweto Uprising of
1976,which was a mass protest against the apartheid education system,the
BAWU played a significant role. The union called for boycotts of schools &
organized strikes and protests. BAWU members also played a prominent role in
organizing skills & so began to organize other forms to civil protest against
apartheid. It all began at the Coronation Brick and Tile plant in Durban in 1973.
Therefore, the philosophy of Black Consciousness influenced the Soweto
Uprising of 1976 as it advocated for the rights of black workers in South Africa
using the philosophy of BC to conscientize & motivate workers to challenge the
apartheid education system.

As planned, the Soweto Uprising took place.On the morning of June 16, Students
marched towards Orlando Stadium carrying placards with slogans such as
"Afrikaans is the language of the oppressor," "Release detained students," and
"Bantu education - To hell with it and Afrikaans is a trial language." The marches
were peaceful and disciplined. While marching to Orlando Stadium, 15,000
students were confronted by 300 police officers who were deployed to Soweto.
The presence of police served to intimidate the protesting students. When the
apartheid police started shooting, the students fled in confusion and anger. The
students set up barricades in the streets, stoned cars, and set fire to buildings.
One of the first victims of the Soweto Uprising was Hector Pieterson, a 13-year-
old Soweto student who was shot while on his way to meet his older sister
Antoinette Pieterson. Protesting continued into the evening. The events in
Soweto were followed by countrywide protests, and students, parents, and whole
communities became involved. Protest action took many forms, such as
boycotts, confrontations with the police, the destruction of property, and
community stay-aways. The year 1976 has been described by historians as a
turning point in South Africa. The Soweto uprising was one of the most
significant events to result from the Black Consciousness Movement's (BCM)
influence. It was inspired by the movement's message of Black Consciousness
and saw their protests as a way to assert their dignity and demand equal rights.
Hence, the philosophy of Black Consciousness played a significant role in
influencing the Soweto uprising and helped to create a sense of empowerment
and resistance among Black South Africans. The movement's message of black
pride and self-determination helped to galvanize the anti-apartheid movements
and played a role in bringing about change in South Africa.

In conclusion, the Philosophy of Black Consciousness influenced the Soweto

Uprising of 1976 through Steve Biko conscientizing Black people, instilling a
feeling of Black pride, self-reliance, black identity, and resistance which ignited
the spark of the Soweto Uprising. Through the SASM, using the philosophy of
Black Consciousness to inspire and mobilize students and activists against the
apartheid government. Lastly, the BPC helped to inspire a generation of Black
activists that laid the foundation for the external demise of apartheid in SA.

EVALUATION
By undertaking this research, one can evaluate that the philosophy of Black
Consciousness, which emerged in South Africa played a critical role in
emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and self-esteem. The philosophy
of Black Consciousness encouraged black people to reject and stand up against
the negative message of colonialism and apartheid.A student protest against the
use of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in schools ignited a spark of a
significant moment in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, which was
the Soweto Uprising, which took place on June 6, 1976. The Soweto Uprising
quickly evolved into a movement and became a core element for Black freedom
and dignity.Leaders of the Soweto Uprising were influenced by the philosophy of
Black Consciousness; this inspired them to act and to resist the oppressive
apartheid regime by believing that they held the power. They made use of slogans
and ideas of the BC movement such as "Africanism is the solution to the
problems of African people." By using these motivational slogans, it helped to
mobilize and galvanize the protest, hence giving it a sense of purpose and
unity.In short, the philosophy of Black Consciousness played a crucial role in
shaping the Soweto Uprising of 1976 by helping to create a sense of identity and
purpose among the black youth who were at the forefront of the struggle against
apartheid.
 REFLECTION

The philosophy of Black Consciousness played a critical role in shaping the

Soweto Uprising of 1976 by creating a sense of identity and purpose for the black
youth, as it provided a framework for resistance and empowerment that
continues to inspire social justice movements around the world today.What I’ve
learnt after undertaking this research is the importance of Black Consciousness
in the Soweto Uprising. It not only ignited a spark which ended the injustice of the
apartheid regime, but it also brought a sense of hope and empowerment. It
inspires the belief that everyone is equal, that no race is superior to another, and
that everyone deserves to live in a just world. Justice, freedom, and peace can be
achieved if people have the right mindset and do not suppress their thinking with
self-pity and self-alienation. Change starts from one's own consciousness.The
spirit, courage, and leadership of the past has taught us a lot. They serve as an
inspiration to young people today who are seeking to create a more just and
equitable world. Their legacy continues to shape the way people think about
resistance, leadership, and social justice.
VISUAL SOURCES
Bibliography

Books:
Focus History Grade 12 (Maskew Miller Longman)

Internet:

1. https://sahistory.org.za
2. https://www.stevebiko.com
3. https://www.flickr.com
4. https://www.bantueducation.com
5. https://wikipedia.org