Book contents
- Arming Black Consciousness
- African Studies Series
- Arming Black Consciousness
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 African Decolonisation, Armed Struggle and Black Power, 1958–1973
- 2 ‘Our Struggle Calls for the Involvement of the Entire Black Community’
- 3 Forging a Guerrilla Army, 1973–1976
- 4 Azanian Black Nationalist Guerrillas: 1976–1993
- 5 ‘Sharpening the Spear’
- 6 Contributions, Absorptions and Repressions of Black Consciousness in MK, 1978–1994
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
- African Studies Series
4 - Azanian Black Nationalist Guerrillas: 1976–1993
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 May 2023
- Arming Black Consciousness
- African Studies Series
- Arming Black Consciousness
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 African Decolonisation, Armed Struggle and Black Power, 1958–1973
- 2 ‘Our Struggle Calls for the Involvement of the Entire Black Community’
- 3 Forging a Guerrilla Army, 1973–1976
- 4 Azanian Black Nationalist Guerrillas: 1976–1993
- 5 ‘Sharpening the Spear’
- 6 Contributions, Absorptions and Repressions of Black Consciousness in MK, 1978–1994
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
- African Studies Series
Summary
This chapter maps the history of efforts of Black Consciousness activists to rebuild their shattered armed wing post-1976. It advances the story in exile through a careful look at attempts at Black Consciousness organizing to restart their armed struggle. This tenaciousness, ever-present in the Azanian Black Nationalist Tradition, highlights the continued importance and relevance of Black Consciousness to the eventual fall of apartheid post-1977. They continued to fight up until 1993 despite the ANC actively obstructing and preventing state or NGO support from being given to organizations under the Black Consciousness banner. These newer formations (IRE, SAYRCO and AZANLA) would engage closely with the wider Third World Revolution and find ways to adopt different lessons, tactics, strategies, theories and perspectives into their ever-expanding political praxis. This did not lessen or dilute their Black Consciousness praxis; on the contrary, it complimented its theoretical and organizational capacities. Nevertheless, the lack of state support, unevenness in centring the gender question, the continued strength of the apartheid war machine and serious disagreements among different Black Consciousness factions hurt the movement in exile. Regardless, they continued to fight.
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- Arming Black ConsciousnessThe Azanian Black Nationalist Tradition and South Africa's Armed Struggle, pp. 140 - 174Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2023