"Black Consciousness is an attitude of the mind and a way of life, the most positive call to emanate from the black world for a long time"

In this quote, Steven Biko, a prominent anti-apartheid activist and leader of the Black Consciousness Movement in South Africa, explains Black Consciousness as more than simply a political ideology, but rather a mindset and way of living. It is a mindset that motivates black individuals to welcome their identity and heritage, and to decline the oppressive systems that have been imposed upon them. Biko sees Black Consciousness as a powerful force, one that has the potential to produce favorable change and freedom for the black neighborhood. He believes that it is a require self-empowerment and self-determination, and that it is the most substantial movement to emerge from the black world in a long time.