“Nieftagodien argues that the Soweto uprising served as both an inspiration and a template for a second wave of unrest in the 1980s, which eventually led to apartheid’s demise. His assessment is both lucid and compelling. It reminds us the that the struggle against apartheid did not just revolve around the ANC or famous leaders, but gained strength from young people who worked for change at the grassroots and who fought against great odds.”
African Studies Quarterly
The Soweto uprising was a true turning point in South Africa’s history. Even to contemporaries, it seemed to mark the beginning of the end of apartheid. This compelling book examines both the underlying causes and the immediate factors that led to this watershed event. It looks at the crucial roles of Black Consciousness ideology and nascent school-based organizations in shaping the character and form of the revolt. What began as a peaceful and coordinated demonstration rapidly turned into a violent protest when police opened fire on students. This short history explains the uprising and its aftermath from the perspective of its main participants, the youth, by drawing on a rich body of oral histories.
Noor Nieftagodien holds the NRF Chair on Local Histories, Present Realities at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he is also the head of the History Workshop.
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African History · African Studies · History · Politics · South Africa · Southern Africa · Africa
Paperback
978-0-8214-2154-3
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Release date: December 2014
166 pages
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Rights: World except SADC
Steve Biko inspired a generation of black South Africans to claim their true identity and refuse to be a part of their own oppression. Through his example, he demonstrated fearlessness and self-esteem, and he led a black student movement countrywide that challenged and thwarted the culture of fear perpetuated by the apartheid regime. He paid the highest price with his life. The brutal circumstances of his death shocked the world and helped isolate his oppressors.
Biography, Activists · African History · African Studies · South Africa · Southern Africa · Africa
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History · African Studies · African History · African Child · Childhood · Apartheid · South Africa
