In 1968, 15 principled and ambitious students met at the University of Natal in Durban to begin a journey guided by self-love. Among them were Steve Biko and Mamphela Ramphele, whose love story unfolded alongside the founding of the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM). In this deeply personal book, their son Hlumelo Biko recounts their union, the philosophy of Black Consciousness, and its transformative impact on South African history. Drawing on interviews with founding members like Barney Pityana, Sath Cooper, Charles Sibisi, and Malusi Mpumlwana, Hlumelo offers an insider’s view of the BCM’s guiding principles — positive black identity, black theology, and ubuntu through community programmes — while engaging in a spiritual conversation with his father, murdered by apartheid police in 1977. He re-examines what it means to live a Black Consciousness life today and critiques the ANC’s departure from its tenets.
Reader Buzz
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Goodreads (~4.0/5 from early readers) — "Moving, personal, and historically important." / "A son’s tribute and a political reflection."
Highlighted for its blend of memoir and political philosophy, South African historical context, and the powerful pull: "To love ourselves was the most radical act."
Recommendations
Perfect for fans of I Write What I Like (Steve Biko), A Passion for Freedom (Mamphela Ramphele), or Native Nostalgia (Jacob Dlamini). Ideal for readers of South African history, political philosophy, and family memoirs.
A paperback (2021) in Good condition.
