Closing remarks 

During the last chapters of this amazing book the reader is able to realize that what Steve Biko said in previous chapters is totally true, the government were only able to kill a man, but not his soul and ideas. 

In some way it can be said that Steve Biko was a planter, yeah, a planter because he was able to plant seeds in peoples' mind, the seed of freedom. After his death, his good friend Mr. Woods and his family started to plan their escape from South Africa because he wanted to publish Biko’s ideas, his nonviolence and his view of confrontation, therefore Mr. Woods believed that the best way to do it was by writing a book and publish it.

After several months Mr. Woods’s work is done. His mind is up about letting know to the whole world Steve Biko’s ideas. Obviously, he was not able to publish such a book in South Africa, but he found a way to leave the country and move with his family to London.

Thanks to Steve Biko’s courage and Mr. Woods’ book the South Africa Government came down after some years, and the seeds that Steve Biko planted, finally were able to germinate.

 Picture From: http://izquotes.com/quotes-pictures/quote-it-is-better-to-die-for-an-idea-that-will-live-      than-to-live-for-an-idea-that-will-die-steve-biko-211101.jpg

Chapter VIII and IX

Up to this point, the system fights back. Steve Biko is released from prison while Mr. Woods goes to prison just for supporting Biko, but he cares less about it, because now he is sure that helping Biko as well as the black community is the right thing to do. Later on, after some months Mr. Wood is freed.

The government and the police make use of any means in order defeat the black revolution which by now is quite powerful. Steve Biko and Mr. Wood are threatened with death. Mr. Woods gets really worried because he has a wife, some children and a good social position, so he has a lot to lose which make him afraid.

On the other hand, Steve Biko also has a wife and a little son, but he is not afraid at all because he knows that he already won the fight, and that if he gets killed, the government are killing just a man but not his ideas.

A lot of things happen during these chapters, however, the event that catches attention the most is when a stranger phones Mr. Woods and tells him Biko was dead. At first, Woods does not believe it but eventually he comes to realize that it was true.

Picture from: http://www.sbf.org.za/Main_Site/administrator/media/uploads/1344432020.jpg

Chapters VI and Vll

These chapters mostly turn around Steve Biko’s trial. Mr. Woods makes a sensible decision that is publishing Biko’s words which have been used to defend him at the trial. Of course, the government does not want this to happen but for the surprise of their life, Woods argues that is totally legal to publish words that have been used in court.

Consequently, Biko’s words begin to echo all around the country, his clever and bright words ignite the hearts of most black people, ignite the flame of hope and freedom.

The government becomes aware of the fact that they are losing the “war”, their whole system against just a man. The more they pressure him, the more popular and important Steve Biko becomes. So they go wild and start threatening Steve Biko’s inner circle.

To make this long story a short one, up to this point the government realizes that their Cristal house is already cracked and that is just a matter of time to get broke and come down into pieces. So they start on threatening everybody and not realizing that Steve Biko has already lighted the fire of hope in the black community, and that what they are doing is trying to blow it off without realizing that their blow contents air, and air contains oxygen which is the best fire “fuel” injector. So instead of putting out the fire they are stoking it up.

  Picture from: http://mikehoolboom.com/thenewsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/8-Cry_Freedom.jpg

Chapters IV and V

Up to this point, a strong bond of friendship has been forged between Mr. Woods and Steve Biko, because they have met a lot lately and shared and discussed different ideas and points of view. Steve Biko starts getting more and more admired among black people for his revolutionaries’ ideas on Black Consciousness, he claims that the only way to finish these brutal differences between the white and black society was “confrontation”. I really admire Steve Biko’s sensible ideas, he claims that they need to kill the idea that one kind of man is better than another kind of man, and he insists that the only way of doing this is not by asking the white men to give it, but by something they (black society) make out by themselves.

The black revolution in South Africa is around the corner, so Steve Biko gets arrested in order to be intimidated, but of course it does not work since he is a truly and fearless leader. Now he is facing a trial for accusing the government of terrorism, he says that confrontation is necessary to struggle and fight against the situation of black people in South Africa. He explains his beliefs that black people must not give in, they must find ways to develop hope.

Here I share some quotes that are directly connected with these chapters.

Being black is not a matter of pigmentation - being black is a reflection of a mental attitude.                                                             Steven Biko

The most potent weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.                                                                                                  Steven Biko

So as a prelude whites must be made to realize that they are only human, not superior. Same with Blacks. They must be made to realize that they are also human, not inferior.                                                       Steven Biko

Picture from: http://www.today.com/slideshow/today/mr-washington-goes-to-the-movies-34749938/let-freedom-ring-46/

Quotes from:    http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/s/steven_biko.html

Chapters II and III. Education of a Liberal

This chapter starts with Mr. Woods driving his way in a white Mercedes through the black township (banned area) because he has a meeting with Mr. Biko. In this meeting they mainly discuss about ideas, the government and the differences between the white and black world. Later Mr. Biko takes Mr. Woods through a journey to show him some buildings that were built by the black community, a church, a hospital, schools, etc. What Mr. Biko wants by doing so is making Mr. Woods aware of how different South Africa is for the black people than is for the white people. It shows that slavery was not abolished, it was just changed…

For example for a black person to live legally in a township, the white boss must sign a pass every month, the white government tells a black person which house to live in and what the rent is. Black people can never own a land or pass anything on to their children; the land belongs to the white man and so on. After reading these chapters the reader realizes that slavery was not abolished but transformed.

After experiencing all this, Mr. Woods starts looking South Africa from a different perspective, in the sense that he starts wondering if it is fair that his “white world” should be sustained by the misery and suffering of the “black world”.

Picture from: http://www.top10de.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Cry-Freedom.jpg

Chapter I. The Beginning

Hello everyone. My name is Pablo Caselli and from now on I will be writing and sharing all about a wonderful book, which is called "CRY FREEDOM" written by John Briley.

Let me tell you the main reason why I have selected this book and the reason is that is based on a true story of a man's fight with the government of South Africa. It is the story of all people who prefer truth to lies. It is the story of all people who cry freedom, and who are not afraid to die... They said that Steve Biko was a man of violence, then why did he talk of peace? They said he wanted revolution; so why did he talk of friendship? It does not make sense, does it? But to be honest, what does make sense nowadays?

In the very first chapter Donald Wood is introduced to the readers, he is a journalist and editor of the Daily Dispatch, a well-known and respected newspaper that is against the atrocities that the South African Government is committing. At this point, Mr. Wood is wondering what story he is going to use as the main story of the day and then he comes across a large picture of a serious, handsome young man called Mr. Biko.

Donald Wood is a man that beliefs that black people should not vote and that law must force whites and blacks to live in separate areas, but at the same time he does not like that black people must be treated with brutality, which is exactly what the government is doing.

Later on, Mr. Wood starts to have a high opinion on Mr. Biko who is said to be one of the few people who can still save South Africa. He is uncertain on how to react and also quite afraid to be bound to a black leader since that means; threats from the police, unknown callers makings threats on his life, etc.

Picture from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2298668/Renowned-actor-director-Richard-Attenborough-moves-care-home-wife-health-concerns.html