Soweto Riots - The effects of Black Consciousness

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HISTORY ESSAY                                                                     25TH AUGUST

M.LOCKYER

“Black consciousness was the primary influence that caused the youth of Soweto to rise up against oppression.”

Assess the accuracy of this explanation by examining the context of the 1976 student protest.

The Soweto riots of June 16th 1976 were a number of clashes between black youths and the South African Authorities. On the morning of , , thousands of black students walked from their schools to Orlando Stadium for a  to protest against having to learn Afrikaans in school. The protest was intended to be peacefull. The influence of Black consciousness in the reasons behind the Soweto riots has been exaggerated. There were other more sinister reasons behind the soweto riots of 1976.

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the Afrikaans Medium Decree of 1974 made it compulsory that from January 1st 1975 Afrikaans had to be used for mathematics, arithmetic, and social studies from grade 7 onwards. English would be used for general science and subjects like homecraft, needlework, woodwork, metalwork, art or agricultural science. Home languages would only be used for religious studies, music, and physical culture. 98% of young Sowetans did not want to be taught in Afrikaans. Afrikaans was closely associated with the oppresive National Party so naturally they did not like the language.

The Black youth were protesting because they were ...

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