Remember Steven Biko - he died 26 years ago today

[phoebe]

To refresh your memories

http://africanhistory.about.com/library/biographies/blbio-stevebiko.htm

[Ignis]

1. 'Oh, Biko, Biko, because Biko...'

Thanks for reminding me to go put on the Peter Gabriel song. :)

Truly, Biko is an example of grace under pressure and patriotism.

[newyawker99]

6. Hi Ignis!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Sancho Panza]

2. Biko

September '77
Port Elizabeth weather fine
It was business as usual
In police room 619

Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Yihla Moja, Yihla Moja
The man is dead, the man is dead

When I try to sleep at night
I can only dream in red
The outside world is black and white
With only one colour dead

You can blow out a candle
But you can't blow out a fire
Once the flames begin to catch
The wind will blow it higher

And the eyes of the world are
Watching now
Watching now

Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh, na na na na na
Oh oh oh, na na na na na
So Biko, Biko
Oh Biko, Biko

by Peter Gabriel

[AP]

5. A lot of candles have blown out since Bush got elected.

Wellstone. De Mello. Anna Linde.

[fizzana]

3. Thanks for the reminder

I met Stephen Biko in 1971 and it was one of the most amazing moments in my life.

I was a relatively naive white kid living in suburban Johannesburg when I met him at a student conference in my first year in college. He and a few of his cohorts walked into a room. He was big and powerful to begin with, but he and his friends were all dressed in like the Black Panthers in the U.S. In 1971 in South Africa this was beyond mindblowing.

After being intimidated out of my mind, just by the sight of him, it turned out that he was very friendly, and to this day, probably the most powerful person I have ever met. He had that effect on virtually everyone, except for the police who murdered him.

If he had lived there is no doubt he would have succeeded Nelson Mandela as President of South Africa.

[dudeness]

4. R.I.P comrade Biko..

.

[tinanator]

7. never forget

who was most closely allied with Apartheid South Africa, and where Apartheid still exists. Neither should we forget who took down the regime. That work is not yet done.

[Festivito]

8. Deserving of a moment in today's contemplations.

I remember trying to get two red-neck South Africans to go and see the movie about Steven Biko. The movie was not allowed in S.A. They declined my offer to take them. They had a look of scared deer in fog lights.

Before apartheid fell.