It is evident in Cry Freedom that Steve Biko stands up for his rights, which can be compared to how citizens of different nations stand up for their rights by not always allowing the government to administer them. Biko is considered a threat, as mentioned before, by the white ruled government of South Africa. As a result, he is officially “banned” and prohibited from exercising basic human rights and from publishing his views. I definitely consider Biko to be an important character because of the fact that he is fighting against racism and for equal treatment; he is not only fighting for blacks to have an advantage. The movie also shows acts of racism in
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South Africa through the experience of Biko. As he is being banned and restricted from his own entitlement, and his voice is taken away, Biko is not held back by his ban and takes ownership of himself and his country. This is evident when he visits Donald Woods’ house, which is out of his forbidden zone, but stays strong and is willing to take risks for the benefit of Black and White children as they are the future. Originally, I think that Biko was able to uplift Woods because of the fact that Woods had called him a racist since he fosters black consciousness ideals. But since they met, that has changed and Woods became the voice of reason.
One aspect of Steve Biko is his moderation. Biko is moderate and does not want the Blacks to really become more superior, but only equal to the whites. At the soccer match, Biko’s speech for grounded his fight against racism as he attempted to promote the idea of changing South Africa. The difference is that Biko is against racism and not the whites. Moreover, Steve Biko is a determined person and is willing to eliminate apartheid in South Africa as well as the negative connotations associated with Black. We can see that Biko is willing to negotiate, however will use violence if he has to. The decision would be up to the whites. As a result of Biko’s resistance and his fight against racism, there are a few consequences. In his fight for freedom he teams up with the white liberal, Donald Woods, and together they try to bring peace and equal treatment for the citizens of South Africa. The friendship between these two reveals that both Blacks and Whites can work together and achieve greater results. The long shot of Biko and Woods shaking hands conveys the message that it is possible for South Africans to unite as a whole.
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Steve Biko is seen as a threat and accused of stirring up racial hatred as a result is killed in police custody. However, the positive outcome of Biko’s resistance is that his message got across to the world. Thanks to the help of Donald Woods, Biko’s message and experience made Whites in South Africa and people in the rest of the world aware of the Blacks suffrage in South Africa. For this evidence, it is clear that in Cry Freedom Steve Biko is an important character and helps portray the director’s message and political agenda. As viewers, we learn that Biko is a victim and should be honoured for his goal to build a country like South Africa for all blacks and whites.
Steven Biko endured a life of countless hardships and turmoil. He was born into a poor African family. Biko introduced Donald Woods, a liberal writer, to the true side of black life. Life for Biko was not very easy. He lived a very harsh life full of suffering. The conditions he was born into were not the best. It is unbelievable that Biko became the influential figure he was despite coming from a very poor and unstable background. This means that Biko had ambition. Biko had lived an incomparably hard life and yet he endured it because he wanted to make South Africa a better place for everyone. Biko was a heroic figure and has established a place from him.
In conclusion, Steve Biko founded the philosophy of the Black Consciousness Movement which would ultimately empower and mobilize much of the urban black population. Since his death in police custody, I believe he is a victim of the anti-apartheid movement. While living, his writings and activisms attempted to empower black people.
