If one is free at heart, no man-made chains can bind one to servitude, but if one's mind is so manipulated and controlled by the oppressor, then there will be nothing the oppressed can do to scare his powerful masters. Steven Biko More Quotes by Steven Biko More Quotes From Steven Biko A people without a positive history is like a vehicle without an engine. Steven Biko engines vehicle people What Black Consciousness seeks to do is to produce real black people who do not regard themselves as appendages to white society. We do not need to apologise for this because it is true that the white systems have produced through the world a number of people who are not aware that they too are people. Steven Biko real white numbers Black Consciousness therefore takes cognizance of the deliberateness of God's plan in creating Black people black. Steven Biko creating black people WOMEN must be at the forefront of nation-building to bring the South African citizenry together and, therefore, develop a whole new ethos of human co-existence Steven Biko ethos building together Tradition has it that whenever a group of people has tasted the lovely fruits of wealth, security and prestige it begins to find it more comfortable to believe in the obvious lie and accept that it alone is entitled to privilege. Steven Biko believe lying people The myth of integration as propounded under the banner of the liberal ideology must be cracked because it makes people believe that something is being achieved when in reality the artificially integrated circles are a soporfic to the blacks while salving the consciences of the few guilt-stricken whites. Steven Biko circles believe reality Merely by describing yourself as black you have started on a road towards emancipation, you have committed yourself to fight against all forces that seek to use your blackness as a stamp that marks you out as a subservient being. Steven Biko black fighting use If you want to say something radical, you should dress conservative. Steven Biko conservative dresses want The power of a movement lies in the fact that it can indeed change the habits of people. This change is not the result of force but of dedication, of moral persuasion. Steven Biko dedication perseverance lying The blacks are tired of standing at the touchlines to witness a game that they should be playing. They want to do things for themselves and all by themselves. Steven Biko tired games want We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our birth. These are concepts which the Black Consciousness approach wishes to eradicate from the black man's mind before our society is driven to chaos by irresponsible people from Coca-cola and hamburger cultural backgrounds. Steven Biko land men people The great powers of the world may have done wonders in giving the world an industrial and military look but the great gift still has to come from Africa - giving the world a more human face. Steven Biko military faces giving We must realise that prophetic cry of black students: Black man you are on your own! Steven Biko black students men Part of the approach envisaged in bringing about Black Consciousness has to be directed to the past, to seek to rewrite the history of the black man and to produce in it the heroes who form the core of the African background Steven Biko hero men past We believe in the inherent goodness of man. Steven Biko goodness men believe In time, we shall be in a position to bestow on South Africa the greatest possible gift - a more human face. Steven Biko black-consciousness faces time Sure there are a few good whites just as much as there are a few bad Blacks. However what we are concerned here with is group attitudes and group politics. The exception does not make a lie or the rule - it merely substantiates it. Steven Biko groups attitude lying To a large extent the evil-doers have succeeded in producing at the output end of their machine a kind of black man who is man only in form. This is the extent to which the process of dehumanization has advanced. Steven Biko black evil men The oneness of community for instance is at the heart of our culture. Steven Biko oneness community heart 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. Steven Biko essence brother men
