BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS

Black consciousness is a name given to a political movement in South Africa which emerged int eh late 1960s and early 1970s. the movement contained several organizations and factions. The common features included a rejection of apartheid, a stress on the value of black cultural identity, and the goal of comprehensive transfer of power to the black majority. By the mid-1970s it was increasingly subject to state repression: Steve Biko, a prominent movement figure died in September 1977 in police detention from injuries sustained under torture, and in October 1977 black consciousness groups were banned.

By the early 1960s, every leader of the anti-apartheid movement including its leader Nelson Mandela was arrested and sentenced to long-term imprisonment. The struggle against apartheid and the white minority rule was led for many decades by the African National Congress (ANC). In 1955, a Congress of the People was held which adopted ‘The Freedom Charter’ laying down the basic objectives of the South African people’s struggle.

The ANC followed a policy of peaceful nonviolent struggle. In the face of the brute violence with which all peaceful protest was suppressed, it decided to launch an armed struggle. It trained it guerillas and soldiers inside South Africa and in the independent state of Africa. Some of the prominent leaders of the ANC had been able to escape arrest. A powerful underground movement was built up and many daring acts of sabotage were committed.

With her almost total isolation in the world and the growing strength of the struggle inside the country, the white rulers of South Africa were forced to open negotiations to end the policy of apartheid. Nelson Mandela, the leader and Vice President of ANC was released from jail after about 26 years in 1990 and the ban on ANC was lifted. This was followed by the end of some elements of the policy of apartheid such as segregation in public placed. Despite many roadblocks constitutional talks for ending the policy of apartheid continued between the white government and the ANC leadership, which finally led to the election of a new multi-racial parliament on the basis of one-person, one-vote in April 1994. The election of Nelson Mandela as the first black president leading a multi-racial government in May 1994 sounded the death knell of apartheid in South Africa.