Biko (book)
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| Biko | |
| Author | Donald Woods |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Biography |
| Publisher | Henry Holt & Company |
| Publication date | 1978 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 436 |
| ISBN | ISBN-10: 0805018999 |
Biko is a biography about Black Consciousness Movement leader and anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko. It was written by Biko’s friend Donald Woods who went into exile for attempting to expose the truth surrounding Biko’s death. It was inspiration for the 1987 film Cry Freedom.
Contents |
[edit] Summary
Biko covers the life of South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko from the view of his friend Donald Woods. The book is also critical of the white government of South Africa and the Apartheid system. It attacks the mistreatment of blacks and the brutality that is used by the police. [1]
[edit] History
Steven Biko died on September 12, 1977 while in Police custody. The official police report was that he had died as the result of a hunger strike, but South African journalist Donald Woods after first seeing the body was convinced that Biko was beaten to death. Woods had photographs of Biko body taken and published in his newspaper Daily Dispatch. Donald Woods was forced to flee for his life after he became targeted by the government for attempting to investigate Biko death. Woods fled to the United Kingdom, where he campaigned against apartheid and publicized articles about Biko.
[edit] Cry Freedom
Richard Attenborough movie Cry Freedom was based of Biko and other articles written by Donald Woods. It stars Denzel Washington as Steve Biko and Kevin Kline as Donald Woods. The movie was not banned in South Africa but the police confiscated copies of it and theaters showing it were bombed. [2]
