Celebrating Steve Biko: We Write What We Like

The thirtieth anniversary of the death of Steve Biko (1946-1977), a South African activist who as murdered while being detained in police custody, came in 2007. Biko's essays called on black Africans to break their chains of servitude and rise up against an oppressive regime. His writings, later collected in the boo "I Write What I Like," became the foundational text for the Black Consciousness Movement that Biko later helped establish.

Celebrating the life, legacy, and work of this phenomenally important figure, "Celebrating Steve Biko" offers both a personal and political tribute to Biko and his contribution to the freedom struggle in South Africa. Essays discuss his intellectual legacy and the inspiration he still provides to those who struggle against oppression. Most important, the anthology considers Biko's memory and precious legacy: the freedom to say, think, and write what we like.

The contributors to this volume are friends, followers, fellow activists, and scholars, including Achille Mbembe and Thabo Mbeki. Biko's renowned essay "Black Consciousness and the Quest for a True Humanity" is also featured.