The Radicalization of the Native South African

The response of the natives was influenced greatly by the philosophy of “Black Consciousness”. This philosophy made natives proud of whom they were and made them reject the thought that their place in society was to serve whites. This movement was most popularized by Stephen Biko. He argued that the black man in South Africa was no longer a man, but rather a shell of a man. He offered ways for them to regain their manhood. “The first step therefore is to make the black man come to himself; to pump back life into his empty shell; to infuse him with pride and dignity, to remind him of his complicity in the crime of allowing himself to be misused and therefore letting evil reign supreme in the country of his birth.” The Black Consciousness movement served as a wake up call to the black community. It did not necessarily promote a certain political position, but rather it called on the native to see his own self worth and then compare that with the position he was given in society. The inevitable result would be to reject the position given and to fight in order to get what is rightfully his.

With the increase in opposition to the government came an increase in national attention on South Africa. As images of police and military actions in the townships of South Africa became more commonplace in international media, foreign bankers and investors began to pull their funds out of South Africa. The political unrest in the country worried investors that their capital was not safe in South Africa. The policy of apartheid was also internationally condemned and most investors wanted nothing to do with it. It seemed that investment in South Africa would come to a halt “until the government could demonstrate its ability to pay its current debts and eliminate apartheid.” The United States Congress overruled President Regan’s veto on placing sanctions on South Africa. Without the consistent flow of investments, the South African economy began to suffer. It was becoming clear that apartheid was not only unethical, but impractical as well.

These factors all contributed to the break down of apartheid in South Africa while at the same time contributing to the “overwhelming” social and economic problems in the post-apartheid era. Even though blacks now have equal rights in South Africa, they will not soon forget their struggle and they will not forget the pride for their race given to them by the Black Consciousness movement. Violent opposition, while necessary in that particular situation, contributed to continuing animosity between whites and blacks. The strikes, boycotts, and international condemnation of apartheid contributed to weakening of the South African economy. Verwoerdian apartheid failed miserably in its goal to promote white supremacy while maintaining a stable, prosperous nation by underestimating the resolve and determination of the natives it tried so hard to oppress.