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
3 - Forging a Guerrilla Army, 1973–1976
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 details the first attempt of the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM) to put together an armed wing in exile in Botswana. After engaging with the different movements in exile Mafuna, Matshoba, Mafole and Nengwekhulu had to figure out how their Black Consciousness praxis would fit in this new phase of struggle. Based out of Botswana, they were able to maintain close communications with the internal wing of the movement that was growing rapidly. They had to use the skills they learned building BCM inside the country in exile to keep their work discreet, yet, continue to organize in plain sight. Eventually, they were able to receive help from the PAC and North African/Middle Eastern radicals in their quest for military training. This represented a continuation of the Azanian Black Nationalist Tradition in Botswana and showed Black Consciousness had the ability to learn from and absorb tactics, strategies and theories from wider Third-World struggles. Critically, the movement would have to encounter patriarchy and sexism as it pertained to who could even obtain military training. Marginalizing the gender question weakened the formation and demeaned the labour, triumphs and sacrifices of Black women who had with the men made their work possible.
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- Information
- Arming Black ConsciousnessThe Azanian Black Nationalist Tradition and South Africa's Armed Struggle, pp. 108 - 139Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2023