HOWARD UNIVERSITY
Steve Biko
The Radical Gospel of Black Consciousness
A Dissertation
Submitted to the Faculty of the
Graduate School
of
HOWARD UNIVERSITY
in partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the
degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Department of African Studies and Research
by
Traci Wyatt
Washington, DC
May 2019
Copyright © 2020 Traci Wyatt
All rights reserved
First Edition
Fulton Books, Inc.
Meadville, PA
Published by Fulton Books 2020
ISBN 978-1-64654-355-7 (paperback)
ISBN 978-1-64654-356-4 (digital)
Printed in the United States of America
Table of Contents
Significance of the Study and Anticipated Contributions
The BCM Gospel Influence in the Lives of Its Believers
White Liberals: Friend or Foe?
The Problem with Black Leaders Working within the System
A Message to the Black Masses: A Quest for True Humanity
Biko’s Message to the System: Now That I Have Your Attention
In Death and Legacy
Conclusion
References
To Steve Biko and all who have died in the struggle against systemic oppression.
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank God for helping me to arrive at this milestone in my academic career. A special thank-you to my adviser and dissertation committee chair, Dr. Mbye A. B. Cham, for agreeing to work with me in accomplishing my educational goals. He has cheered me on while being patient, thorough, and keen in directing me so that I could reach every stage of this journey in a timely and successful manner.
To the distinguished scholars of Howard University’s Department of African Studies who make up my committee—Dr. Almaz Zewde, Dr. Alem Hailu, Dr. Cheryl Sanders—thank you for your willingness to serve on my committee and for challenging and supporting me through this process.
There is another exceptional faculty member that I cannot thank enough, and that is Dr. Cheryl Sanders from Howard University’s School of Divinity. You helped breathe life into my dissertation proposal that would have otherwise been shot down. Your expertise in Christian ethics and theology eased the tensions of seeing the Christian side of Steve Biko’s life. Dr. Benjamin Arah, my external reviewer from Bowie State University, thank you for challenging and encouraging me simultaneously during the oral defense.
Graciously and from the bottom of my heart, I send an exceptional thank you to my mentor who has walked with me from day one of my collegiate journey, Dr. Segun Gbadegesin. You believed in me and saw potential when I did not believe in myself. Thank you!
My supervisor, Dr. Daniel Williams, has been absolutely amazing in supporting my academic endeavors beyond my imagination, even supporting my trip to South Africa and attending my ceremonies. He is truly a godsend. Also, to the young black intelligentsia of the Honors Program who have cheered me on and encouraged me along the way, you’re the best.
God has blessed me with a very understanding, loving, supportive, and giving family; set of friends; and church. They have prayed with me, cried with me, and encouraged and rejoiced with me. I love them from the bottom of my heart, especially my mom.
Lastly, oh, Howard, how I sing of thee! Howard University has allowed me an opportunity to be cultivated on the very rich soul of culture, history, academics, and blackness that have been fertilized with the love, sweat, and tears of faculty, staff, and students. Thank you!
Abstract
This dissertation analyzes the critical role of Christianity in the life of Steve Biko, African political activist during the late 1960s and 1970s, when he took center stage as a powerful leader in the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa. It examines Biko’s evolution and maturation as a revolutionary leader against apartheid and examines how Christianity was central to Biko’s leadership in rebuilding hope and self-reliance among his people. It also examines Christianity as the pivotal foundation for the Black Consciousness Movement and how it became the center of nefarious race relations within South Africa.
The dissertation looks at Biko’s life in the Black Consciousness Movement from a Christian perspective, with a focus on discovering how he and others in the South African Students’ Organization, Black People’s Convention, and Black Community Programmes used Christianity to create a gospel message suitable for the upliftment and empowerment of black South Africans through black theology while fighting for the psychological, economic, spiritual, and political liberation of the people. It identifies the parallels between the tenets of Christianity and those of the Black Consciousness Movement, both of which espouse exhibiting Christlike behavior that aligns closely with that of Jesus, the central figure in the Christian religion. Therefore,