The role that radical pedagogy plays in resistance movements : a case study of the Black Consciousness Movement's use of Paulo Freire's pedagogy.
Date
2015-05-13
Authors
Naidoo, Leigh-Ann
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Abstract
The role of education in building political movements and the potential of education
to transform society are questions that remain relevant, not only in South Africa but
the world over. The aim of this study was to investigate the Black Consciousness
Movements (BCM’s) engagement with education and specifically critical pedagogy
from 1968 until 1973. In this thesis I argue that the BCM understood education to be
political and that education formed a central part of the movement. The study
establishes that there are a number of tensions but that the central tension seems to
be that the BCM really understand that they want to rebuild identity, subjectivity,
consciousness, and deal with false consciousness, which is only possible through a
sustained educational project. But what emerges is that the political project, of
inspiring quick community action to solve-problems and ignite the masses to resist
the racial oppressions that are prevalent, trumps the educational project.