Steve Biko: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 20:09, 20 April 2007

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==Biography==

Biko was born in [[King Williams Town]], in the [[Eastern Cape]] province of [[South Africa]].He was originially named Nikki Rico Biko but his mommy decided she wanted to change it to steve. He was a student at the [[University of Natal|University of Natal Medical School]]. He was initially involved with the multiracial [[National Union of South African Students]], but after he became convinced that Black, [[Asians in South Africa|Indian]] and [[Coloured]] students needed an organization of their own, he helped found the [[South African Students' Organization]] (SASO) in 1968, and was elected its first president. The SASO evolved into the influential [[Black Consciousness Movement]] (BCM).

In 1972 Biko became honorary president of the [[Black People's Convention]]. He was [[ban (law)#Banned persons under Apartheid|banned]] during the height of apartheid in March 1973, meaning that he was not allowed to speak to more than one person at a time, was restricted to certain areas, and could not make speeches in public. It was also forbidden to quote anything he said, including speeches or simple conversations. In spite of the repression of the [[apartheid]] government, Biko and the BCM played a significant role in organizing the protests which culminated in the [[Soweto riots|Soweto Uprising]] of [[16 June]], [[1976]]. In the aftermath of the uprising, which was crushed by heavily-armed police shooting down dozens of protesters, the authorities began to target Biko further.