"Being black is not a matter of pigmentation - being black is a reflection of a mental attitude"

Steven Biko's quote, "Being black is not a matter of pigmentation - being black is a reflection of a mental attitude", encapsulates his approach of Black Consciousness, which looked for to empower black people in South Africa during apartheid by changing their self-perception and collective identity. Biko challenges the simple and superficial understanding of race based simply on skin color, stressing rather the mental and cultural measurements of what it means to be black.

When Biko specifies that being black is a "reflection of a mental mindset", he highlights the importance of consciousness and identity beyond physical attributes. This mental mindset involves welcoming one's heritage, culture, and self-respect in the face of systemic oppression and dehumanizing societal structures. It involves an awareness of one's worth and prospective, cultivating a sense of pride and dignity that resists the internalized inferiority frequently promoted by oppressive systems. This ideology seeks to liberate black individuals from the shackles of a colonial and apartheid mentality that deemed them inferior.

Biko's message suggests that blackness is an active, lived experience shaped by history, struggle, and solidarity. It has to do with developing a collective consciousness that acknowledges the shared experiences and resilience of black individuals. By focusing on mental attitude, Biko highlights resistance and empowerment through self-definition, instead of allowing external forces to define black identity.

The philosophy acts as a rallying point for unity, motivating black people to see themselves as equates to and agents of modification. It is a call to turn down subjugation, to assert one's mankind, and to work towards a future where racial inequality and discrimination are eliminated. In essence, Biko redefines blackness as a declaration of mental freedom and political activism, asserting that true emancipation begins with how one views oneself and one's community. Through this lens, Biko's words continue to inspire movements for racial equality and social justice worldwide.