1977 – "Steve Biko's Banned Speech Leaked to International Press"

On May 12, 1977, a smuggled speech by South African activist Steve Biko was leaked to the international press. Biko, who had been silenced under apartheid’s “banning orders,” was the founder of the Black Consciousness Movement, advocating psychological liberation from white supremacy. The leaked speech, delivered through intermediaries, was a scathing critique of apartheid and an empowering call for Black pride and autonomy. It energized global anti-apartheid efforts and put pressure on the South African government. Just four months later, Biko would be murdered in police custody. But May 12 remains significant as the day his voice broke through censorship, reaffirming the enduring power of truth. Biko’s philosophy still resonates today in movements calling for racial justice, dignity, and self-determination.