These two streams of political thought and the adoption of two different sets of tactics and strategies both flowed out of political experience in the 1950's and the 1960's. The Black Consciousness option of confrontationalist politics was a re-enactment of the politics of anger which led to the formation of the PAC. The adoption of mass protest was an acceptance of the violent consequences which often attended confrontationalist protest. The Inkatha option was a re-enactment of constituency politics which Chief Albert Lutuli espoused.

Black politics of the 1970's and early l980's has been dominated by many things; but two identifiable forces can be seen to have been at work. The first of these is the political experience briefly outlined above. The second is the wider political context in which this experience was gained and the political traditions of black South Africa which have been in evolution ever since the formation of the ANC in 1912.