around which the system revolves. Blacks are out to completely transform the
system and to make of it what they wish. 64
The ideology of Black Consciousness penetrated the urban schools. On
June 16, 1976, thousands of black schoolchildren in Soweto demonstrated
against the government's insistence that half of their subjects be taught in
Afrikaans-as
they saw it, the language of the oppressor. The protests
became nationwide
after the police shot and killed a thirteen-year-old
African student during the demonstration.
The government reacted bru-
212