‘Lost Opportunities’: The African National Congress of South Africa (ANC-SA)’s Evolving Relationship with the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM) in Exile, 1970–1979

Abstract

An under-researched dimension of the exile politics of the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC-SA) revolves around how they reacted to the rising Black Consciousness Movement (BCM) during the 1970s. While much has been written about the ANC-SA’s relationship with the Pan African Congress (PAC), similar attention has not been given to how the ANC-SA reacted to BCM’s rise outside South Africa. From what has been written, the dominant narrative argues BCM was not a serious threat and that despite some early tensions was eventually absorbed into ANC-SA structures. This hegemonic narrative continues by arguing those who refused to be absorbed constituted a ‘Third Force’ that was being supported by international elements unfriendly to the ANC-SA. Both components of this dominant narrative downplay the real anxieties felt by the ANC-SA in exile concerning its own ineffectiveness in the early 1970s. At this time global recognition was not assured as BCM’s growing influence inside South Africa had many international allies of the ANC-SA questioning how relevant the ANC-SA was inside the country. My research has found that it was the ANC-SA who considered BCM a threat to its influence and in response proceeded to systematically discredit and marginalise it internationally.