"The most potent weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed"

In this quote, Steven Biko, a South African anti-apartheid activist, highlights the power dynamics in between the oppressor and the oppressed. He suggests that the greatest weapon used by the oppressor is not physical force or violence, however rather the manipulation and control of the minds of the oppressed. By instilling fear, doubt, and a sense of inferiority in the minds of the oppressed, the oppressor has the ability to maintain their power and control over them. This quote functions as a reminder that true freedom and resistance against oppression starts with releasing the mind from the oppressive ideologies and beliefs imposed by the oppressor.