Steve Biko's death last September marked a watershed in South African history. Donald Woods' biography of the founder of South Africa's black consciousness movement was poured out in haste - and in defiance of government prohibition - to convey to the world his black friend's stature and his message. The resulting book is somewhat disjointed; but in the series of warm personal vignettes, reported conversations, writings and court transcripts Biko's strength and the personal freedom that made him a model for black self-liberation come through clearly.
