"I write what I want"

Steve Biko was a great and inspirational leader of the anti-apartheid movement.  He grew up in a township outside of King Williams Town (about an hour's drive from East London).  He was killed in prison in 1989 at the age of 30.  We visited the Steve Biko Foundation in King Williams Town, learned of his life, visited his grave and the last house in which he was place on house arrest.

In a book of lectures on Biko's life and works Chinua Achebe wrote of Biko, "A young man with a sharp intellect and a flair for organization and leadership, Biko realised the need to raise the sagging morale of black people, to raise their consciousness and self-esteem; in his own words to 'overcome the psychological oppression of black people by whites.'"

It was an honor to get to know more about this courageous and brilliant man who wrote what he wanted in trying to lift the sense of self worth and determination of the black majority in South Africa.

This was a good but tiring day.  After a late lunch we were scheduled to go the "Great House" a museum of indigenous tribal life at the site of the "Great House" of a King of the area members of a Xhosa tribe.  It was interesting, but we were too exhausted to pay attention.  We did not stay long.

One of our drives, Byron Jonas, invited us back to his house for a cookout.  We agreed to go out of obligation to him.  Afterall, we were exhausted.  As it turned out it was one of the best things we did.  We had a great time, got to be with his family (wife Yolanda, his daughter and son).  It was our last night in East London, and even though we had to get up early the next morning we stayed until 11:00.

Blessings,

Rick Cowles