"Merely by describing yourself as black you have started on a road towards emancipation, you have committed yourself to fight against all forces that seek to use your blackness as a stamp that marks you out as a subservient being"

In this quote, Steven Biko is stressing the power and significance of self-identification. By simply acknowledging and accepting one's blackness, Biko believes that an individual has actually taken the initial step towards freedom and liberty. He argues that society typically utilizes race as a means of oppression and control, and by accepting and owning one's blackness, a person is actively withstanding these oppressive forces. Biko advises people to combat versus any attempts to use their race as a way of subjugation, and rather, use it as a source of strength and empowerment. This quote highlights the significance of self-awareness and self-determination in the fight against bigotry and discrimination.