South African Black Leader. Biko founded the Black Consciousness Movement, the South African Students' Organization, the Black People's Convention and the Zimele Trust, to help fund aid for the families of political prisoners in South Africa. Biko sought peaceful reconciliation with white South Africans, but instead found violence and was forced to give up his medical studies at the University of Natal in 1973. Over time he was placed in detention and prosecuted four times for breaking apartheid regulations. On September 12, 1977, while being detained, he died from unexplained head wounds in his cell. The prison authorities were found not responsible after a 3-week inquest into the death. His funeral was attended by over 20,000 mourners, including many blacks and world leaders.
South African Black Leader. Biko founded the Black Consciousness Movement, the South African Students' Organization, the Black People's Convention and the Zimele Trust, to help fund aid for the families of political prisoners in South Africa. Biko sought peaceful reconciliation with white South Africans, but instead found violence and was forced to give up his medical studies at the University of Natal in 1973. Over time he was placed in detention and prosecuted four times for breaking apartheid regulations. On September 12, 1977, while being detained, he died from unexplained head wounds in his cell. The prison authorities were found not responsible after a 3-week inquest into the death. His funeral was attended by over 20,000 mourners, including many blacks and world leaders.
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