Black Consciousness Movement

A specific Black Consciousness movement in South Africa during the 1970s, also known simply as BCM.

This is a general name applied to a specific programme of action set out by Steve Biko, who was its charismatic leader and most prominent spokesman in the 1960’s, which gained concrete manifestation in such organisations as the Black Community Programmes (late 1960’s), the Black People's Convention (BPC – founded 1972) and the Black Allied Workers Union, which were all intended to co-ordinate the movement on the political, social and cultural fronts. Specific interpretation of the notions "black" and "the community" were defined by this movement, where Biko argued for an inclusive definition of "blackness", based not on pigmentation so much as mental attitude and thus a defining characteristic of a large and widely spread "community" with shared needs and ideals. The BCM stressed black independence of white collusion and conscientization became a central tenet of their cultural political programme.

Also see further the entry on Black Consciousness