Defining Black Consciousness

" Black Consciousness is in essence the realization by the Black
man of the need to rally together with his brothers around the cause
of their oppression - the blackness of their skin and to operate
as a group in order to rid themselves of the shackles that bind them
to perpetual servitude. It seeks to demonstrate the lie that black
is an aberration from the normal which is white. It is a manifestation
of a new realization that by seeking to run away from themselves and
to emulate the white man, blacks are insulting the intelligence of
whoever created them black. Black consciousness therefore takes cognizance
of the deliberateness of God's plan in creating black people
black. It seeks to infuse the black community with a new-found pride
in themselves, their efforts, their value systems, their culture, their
religion and their outlook to life" (Steve Biko)

EXCERPS FROM STEVE BIKOS ADDRESS AT A BLACK THEOLOGY
SEMINAR IN PIETERMARITZBURG, 28 AUGUST 1971 ( SOURCE: SASO NEWSLETTER,
SEPTEMBER 1971)