While working for Drum, Cole began to mingle with other talented young black South Africans—journalists, photographers, jazz musicians, and political leaders in the burgeoning anti-apartheid movement—and became radicalised in his political views.
Under arbetet på Drum kom Ernest Cole i kontakt med andra talangfulla unga svarta sydafrikaner: journalister, fotografer, jazzmusiker och poilitiska ledare inom den växande anti-apartheidrörelsen, och radikaliserades politiskt.