Today marks 40 years since South African anti-Apartheid activist Steve Biko lost his life after being badly beaten by local police
Biko was a fearless and influential voice for South African youth in the late 1960s and 1970s, who helped lead the fight against Apartheid and ultimately gave his life for the cause. While alive, Biko was the leader of the Black Consciousness Movement —a social campaign similar to America’s Black Power movement—which called for an end to segregation and racial injustice targeting the Black community in South Africa.
His death sparked an uprising in South Africa and put a face on the cruelties of Apartheid, while his story garnered praise from former South African President Nelson Mandela. While some feel the impact of Biko’s legacy has been largely understated on a global scale, his memory and spirit continues to live on in communities across South Africa.
Watch the video above to learn more about the story of Steve Biko as we join the world in celebrating his memory.