Nelson Mandela and Steven Biko both believed in ending
apartheid and bringing about civil rights and legal equality for black citizens of South
Africa. They both believed that such a social revolution could be achieved
non-violently, but both were willing to fight if it came to
that.
Mandela was affiliated with the African National
Congress, which did have a militant/violent sect but believed if enough popular pressure
could be brought to bear on the South African government and that if it could force
Mandela's release from prison, then the rest of the revolution could be won
easily.
Biko believed that all that was needed was to raise
awareness of black culture and identity, to give them pride in who they were and a sense
of equality within themselves. He called this "Black Consciousness" and believed that
once blacks became aware of their own worth as human beings, they would no longer
tolerate living under apartheid and a widespread revolution could not be
stopped.
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