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  • Essay / The Battle Against Apartheid - 1012

    Long denied rights and freedoms would not have been granted to now multiracial South Africa without two icons of black history who fought against apartheid apartheid. The recurring theme in the articles “Steve Biko” and “Obituaries; Nelson Mandela” is that they both fought hard against apartheid and worked to overthrow the oppression of the black race in order to restore their basic human rights. Steve Biko began his career as an activist at the age of 20 and founded a movement called The Black Consciousness which quickly grew. Due to this growth, the government began imprisoning hundreds of members of the movement and had police hack into their phones to monitor their every move. Biko was later banned by the government from all methods of supporting the struggle, although despite the ban Biko continued to support the cause using various illegal strategies. The police quickly arrested him without charge and treated him in an abusive and vulgar manner. Biko then died that year from severe brain injuries and 17 years later Nelson Mandela, another leader of the struggle, was elected president in free and open elections. Hoping to give black South Africans the right to vote and other rights, and with society only getting worse, Mandela opened the country's first black law firm in 1952. Then, in 1960, 69 peaceful protesters were killed, infuriating Mandela, leading him to lead a bombing campaign against official government sites and offices. As a result of the campaign, he would then spend the next 27 years of his life in prison doing hard labor in a limestone quarry. However, the battle was not yet over, as these two protesters would continue to fight until the day apartheid was overthrown. Steve Biko on a huge...... middle of paper ...... that Mandela had abandoned his commitment because of who he was and the way he insisted and preached non-violence. Despite this, both protesters were emotionally and physically abused, but still managed to improve the laws and mentality towards the black South African race in a peaceful manner that is recognized today. Nelson Mandela and Steve Biko were the two icons who created the new system of equality and equality. Multiracial South Africa. They fought a long, hard battle against apartheid and dedicated their lives to the cause. They improved basic human rights and laws for black people in South Africa while reinforcing racial oppression. They put aside their desires and self-esteem all their lives to bring pride and justice to their people. These two peaceful protesters will forever live in the hearts of the black race and make world history..