Conversations with Steven Bantu Biko…1

Conversations with Steven Bantu Biko…1

“It is better to die for an idea that will live, than to live for an idea that will die” Steve Biko

Amazing how you lived before your time Steve. You saw what would happen decades after your death. You spoke of Black consciousness, but not hatred, butyour critics decided to twist your ideologies,making you into some hating person. I grew up knowing you as a person who was forceful, a man who believed in violence.

Now Steve I read more about you, I am finding more about what you stood for and what you believed in. How you believe that a black child should liberate himself through education. How a black child should pride himself/herself. You believed that it is important to acknowledge your existencesamong other human being,but in order to successfully do that; you need to be comfortable in your own skin.

“We have set out on a quest for true humanity, and somewhere on the distant horizon we can see the glittering prize. Let us march forth with courage and determination, drawing strength from our common brotherhood. In time we shall be in the position to bestow upon South Africa the greatest gift possible, a mere human face” Steve Biko  You believed in humanity and you believed in human dignity.

Steve I have so many questions for you that no amount of writing can feel my curiosity on what you believed in. You didn’t hate white people, but hated the way they treated their fellow human beings. What is so barbaric with such humanity? Yet your death raised questions,maybe it was a known fact that you would have been a great leader and stood your ground. You would have taught us to take pride in our selves, stand up and be counted. Stop wanting government to do things for us, I believe you would have told us, no one owes anything. We own our lives, therefore cannot expect people to do things for us. You would have taken away this lazy idea of wanting free things. Oh Steve how heart breaking how the black child does not respect property, how violence has become the black child’s order of the day. You would tell us to wake up, and go to school and become better people.

Our leaders have fallen prey to greed, they are power hungry Steve, and they lost the plot a long time ago. They want to be paid for being in the struggle. Struggle is the magic word, and the ordinary citizen has been forgotten.  Oh yes we have made some progress, I’m glad I could go to any school.  I’m not saying you were a saint, but I want to believe you would have stuck to your core believes.

I think I have said enough for now Steve, I know I have so much more to share with you. For now I’ll stop here.