Charlotte Maxeke

The first Black South African woman to earn a university degree, and the founder of the Bantu Women's League. She organised the women who refused to carry passes in 1913, forty-three years before the march on Pretoria.

Albert Luthuli

Chief, teacher and president of the ANC through the years it was banned. In 1960 he became the first African awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, for insisting the struggle stay non-violent.

Steve Biko

Founder of the Black Consciousness Movement, who argued that liberation began in the mind before it reached the law. Killed in police custody at thirty, and heard louder afterwards.

Albertina Sisulu

A nurse who held a family and a movement together while her husband served twenty-five years on Robben Island. Banned, detained and restricted for much of her adult life, and never quiet.

Nelson Mandela

Twenty-seven years in prison, then the negotiation that ended apartheid without the civil war everyone expected. First president of a democratic South Africa, and he served one term.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

She kept her husband's name in the world for twenty-seven years while the state tried to erase it, through banishment, solitary confinement and constant surveillance. A contested life, and an unavoidable one.

Charlotte Maxeke

The first Black South African woman to earn a university degree, and the founder of the Bantu Women's League. She organised the women who refused to carry passes in 1913, forty-three years before the march on Pretoria.

Albert Luthuli

Chief, teacher and president of the ANC through the years it was banned. In 1960 he became the first African awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, for insisting the struggle stay non-violent.

Steve Biko

Founder of the Black Consciousness Movement, who argued that liberation began in the mind before it reached the law. Killed in police custody at thirty, and heard louder afterwards.

Albertina Sisulu

A nurse who held a family and a movement together while her husband served twenty-five years on Robben Island. Banned, detained and restricted for much of her adult life, and never quiet.

Nelson Mandela

Twenty-seven years in prison, then the negotiation that ended apartheid without the civil war everyone expected. First president of a democratic South Africa, and he served one term.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

She kept her husband's name in the world for twenty-seven years while the state tried to erase it, through banishment, solitary confinement and constant surveillance. A contested life, and an unavoidable one.

Charlotte Maxeke

The first Black South African woman to earn a university degree, and the founder of the Bantu Women's League. She organised the women who refused to carry passes in 1913, forty-three years before the march on Pretoria.

Albert Luthuli

Chief, teacher and president of the ANC through the years it was banned. In 1960 he became the first African awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, for insisting the struggle stay non-violent.

Steve Biko

Founder of the Black Consciousness Movement, who argued that liberation began in the mind before it reached the law. Killed in police custody at thirty, and heard louder afterwards.

Albertina Sisulu

A nurse who held a family and a movement together while her husband served twenty-five years on Robben Island. Banned, detained and restricted for much of her adult life, and never quiet.

Nelson Mandela

Twenty-seven years in prison, then the negotiation that ended apartheid without the civil war everyone expected. First president of a democratic South Africa, and he served one term.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

She kept her husband's name in the world for twenty-seven years while the state tried to erase it, through banishment, solitary confinement and constant surveillance. A contested life, and an unavoidable one.

Charlotte Maxeke

The first Black South African woman to earn a university degree, and the founder of the Bantu Women's League. She organised the women who refused to carry passes in 1913, forty-three years before the march on Pretoria.

Albert Luthuli

Chief, teacher and president of the ANC through the years it was banned. In 1960 he became the first African awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, for insisting the struggle stay non-violent.

Steve Biko

Founder of the Black Consciousness Movement, who argued that liberation began in the mind before it reached the law. Killed in police custody at thirty, and heard louder afterwards.

Albertina Sisulu

A nurse who held a family and a movement together while her husband served twenty-five years on Robben Island. Banned, detained and restricted for much of her adult life, and never quiet.

Nelson Mandela

Twenty-seven years in prison, then the negotiation that ended apartheid without the civil war everyone expected. First president of a democratic South Africa, and he served one term.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

She kept her husband's name in the world for twenty-seven years while the state tried to erase it, through banishment, solitary confinement and constant surveillance. A contested life, and an unavoidable one.