Biko Chic

It looks like Steve Biko has become South Africa's Che Guevara (following Nelson Mandela, of course, who was given the Che treatment for the first ten years after apartheid ended). In a story for the Associated Press, writer Celean Jacobson reported that T-shirts bearing the image of Steve Biko, the symbol of black resistance worldwide who was killed by apartheid police, can be found for sale at flea market stalls and exclusive boutiques across South Africa.

She asks an interesting question:

"Is [the new trend] a sign the post-apartheid youth culture is embracing Biko's message of racial pride and African unity, or just crass commercialization of one of the most important figures in South African history."

Jackie Radebe, 23, who bought a Biko T-shirt after reading "I Write What I Like," sees him as a selfless leader whose politics of brotherhood are still relevant to South Africa.

"He had genuine compassion for the plight of the people, genuine concern about poverty, crime and loss of pride," Radebe said.

While Biko would celebrate the "breakthroughs this young democracy has achieved," Radebe believes his hero would be disappointed in the country's leaders.

"As far as morals, integrity and principles ... contemporary political leaders seem to be driven by money and self-interest," he says.

Read the full article here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070911/ap_en_ot/south_africa_biko;_ylt=AjsordfrfaK_E7_DpsXbHSgE1vAI

Steve Biko Foundation:

http://www.sbf.org.za