Maimela on black power in black theology (1987): a dialogue with Steve Biko

Abstract

Black1 Power is the heart of Black Theology, while Black Consciousness is the soul of Black Theology. Until Blacks attain Black Power, they cannot speak without a flight (running away) from their White2 oppressors. A Black person’s attainment of Black Power is a conversion moment – a new birth. South African Black Theology and Black Consciousness predate the 1960s. The 1960s were merely the conceptualisation of what was already there. The Black’s self-inflicted fear is the anti-thesis of Black Power. Through Black Consciousness theory Biko conceptualised and systematised Black Power. Maimela harnessed Biko’s thoughts to systematise Black Theology. Black Power, Black Consciousness and Black Theology cannot do without one another. To speak of Black Theology without Black Power is tantamount to speaking of a Black person who is not Black.