Steve Biko and Kenneth Kaunda: Sampling youth in history

The paper examines history from the perspective of the youth as a marginalized social group in most societies. They are young, lacking influential skills and preparing for imagined futures. The paper argues that youth do not often use the democratic power embedded in numbers. The paper advances to s...

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Main Author: Ackson M. Kanduza
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2011-11-01
Series:Contree
Subjects:
Online Access:https://newcontree.org.za/index.php/nc/article/view/346
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author Ackson M. Kanduza
author_facet Ackson M. Kanduza
author_sort Ackson M. Kanduza
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description The paper examines history from the perspective of the youth as a marginalized social group in most societies. They are young, lacking influential skills and preparing for imagined futures. The paper argues that youth do not often use the democratic power embedded in numbers. The paper advances to show that history as selected speculation, fails to empower the youth in not explaining that major historical eras emerged from political challenges that the youth initiated and led. The author take the case of Steve Biko from South Africa and Kenneth Kaunda from Zambia to demonstrate the historical foundations of changes that came later in their respective states. During their youth Biko and Kaunda entered politics and precipitated changes of an enduring nature. When borrowing from Kaunda, Biko argued that respect for human dignity and freedoms laid foundations for struggles that improved social values and justice by rejecting colonial systems. It is further argued that comparative studies of people during their youth could improve quality of historical studies or learning, and appeal to young people to develop interest in history, and historical research.
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spelling doaj.art-7d99267435c24ff58e9ed87f19a3c00a2024-02-29T14:00:14ZengAOSISContree0379-98672959-510X2011-11-0162010.4102/nc.v62i0.346327Steve Biko and Kenneth Kaunda: Sampling youth in historyAckson M. Kanduza0Department of History, University of BotswanaThe paper examines history from the perspective of the youth as a marginalized social group in most societies. They are young, lacking influential skills and preparing for imagined futures. The paper argues that youth do not often use the democratic power embedded in numbers. The paper advances to show that history as selected speculation, fails to empower the youth in not explaining that major historical eras emerged from political challenges that the youth initiated and led. The author take the case of Steve Biko from South Africa and Kenneth Kaunda from Zambia to demonstrate the historical foundations of changes that came later in their respective states. During their youth Biko and Kaunda entered politics and precipitated changes of an enduring nature. When borrowing from Kaunda, Biko argued that respect for human dignity and freedoms laid foundations for struggles that improved social values and justice by rejecting colonial systems. It is further argued that comparative studies of people during their youth could improve quality of historical studies or learning, and appeal to young people to develop interest in history, and historical research.https://newcontree.org.za/index.php/nc/article/view/346kenneth kaundasteve bikocomparative historyafrican leadersyouth and historyyouth and politicsafrican leaders
spellingShingle Ackson M. Kanduza
Steve Biko and Kenneth Kaunda: Sampling youth in history
Contree
kenneth kaunda
steve biko
comparative history
african leaders
youth and history
youth and politics
african leaders
title Steve Biko and Kenneth Kaunda: Sampling youth in history
title_full Steve Biko and Kenneth Kaunda: Sampling youth in history
title_fullStr Steve Biko and Kenneth Kaunda: Sampling youth in history
title_full_unstemmed Steve Biko and Kenneth Kaunda: Sampling youth in history
title_short Steve Biko and Kenneth Kaunda: Sampling youth in history
title_sort steve biko and kenneth kaunda sampling youth in history
topic kenneth kaunda
steve biko
comparative history
african leaders
youth and history
youth and politics
african leaders
url https://newcontree.org.za/index.php/nc/article/view/346
work_keys_str_mv AT acksonmkanduza stevebikoandkennethkaundasamplingyouthinhistory