Black power movement
Black power: political slogan for various associates ideologies aimed at promoting
the black racial group – expresses a range of political goals, from defence against
racism and racial oppression to the establishment of social institutions and a self-
sufficient economy.
Background:
The Black Power Movement was established in the US during the civil rights era in
the 1960s. Many members of the Students Non-Violent Coordinating Committee
(SNCC) became critical of the non-violent approach of MLK junior as they believed it
was not achieving social change fast enough.
The members of the SNCC, who supported the BPM, were generally younger than
the main leaders of the main civil rights organisations. They became increasingly
militant and outspoken – their view was that white racists were prepared to use
extreme violence against African Americans and that the non-violent approach had
not made enough progress towards equality.
The BPM emphasised black pride and called for the for the founding of black political
and cultural institutions. Because of their emphasis on restoring black dignity and
pride, many supported segregation in the CRM. As slavery had stripped African
Americans of identity and culture, they believed that only African Americans could
reclaim their lost heritage.
The acceptance of violence as a
legitimate means of achieving civil
rights was in conflict with the
approach of the leaders of the
mainstream CRM and the 2
movements have often been
regarded as antagonistic towards
each other. However, there were
groups and individuals, such as
Stokely Carmichael, who
participated in both – and both
wanted freedom for African
Americans. A range of political goals expressed by BPM was the same as those of
the CRM, including the ending of racial oppression and equal political and civil rights.
, Black Panther
The Black Panther Party was formed in California in
1966 and played a short but important role in the
CRM. The party was originally formed to protect
local communities from police brutality and racism.
The founders were:
- Huey Percy Newton
- Bobby Seale
The party had social and political goals – equality in:
- Education
- Housing
- Employment
- Civil rights
In a 10- Point Plan to achieve these goals, they called for freedom, full employment,
decent housing, teaching of true African American history, an end to police brutality,
an end to murder, and free health care. They also called for a revolutionary war to
achieve their goals of equality and civil rights and were willing to use violence to get
what they wanted.
Community programmes:
The socialist community programmes were an important part of the Panther’s
strategy. Through the programmes they showed how politics were relevant to the
people and that the Panthers cared about the needs of their communities. The
programmes achieved a lot with very limited resources. The first programme
organised was the Free Breakfast for Children Programme. They approached
businessmen for donations and organised boycotts of stores that refused to
contribute. Food was served to the children in church halls and they also organised
and ran medical clinics.
Militancy:
The other
side of the
Panther’s
programmes
was
militancy –
they decided
to take up
their
constitutional
right to carry
arms and to
Black power: political slogan for various associates ideologies aimed at promoting
the black racial group – expresses a range of political goals, from defence against
racism and racial oppression to the establishment of social institutions and a self-
sufficient economy.
Background:
The Black Power Movement was established in the US during the civil rights era in
the 1960s. Many members of the Students Non-Violent Coordinating Committee
(SNCC) became critical of the non-violent approach of MLK junior as they believed it
was not achieving social change fast enough.
The members of the SNCC, who supported the BPM, were generally younger than
the main leaders of the main civil rights organisations. They became increasingly
militant and outspoken – their view was that white racists were prepared to use
extreme violence against African Americans and that the non-violent approach had
not made enough progress towards equality.
The BPM emphasised black pride and called for the for the founding of black political
and cultural institutions. Because of their emphasis on restoring black dignity and
pride, many supported segregation in the CRM. As slavery had stripped African
Americans of identity and culture, they believed that only African Americans could
reclaim their lost heritage.
The acceptance of violence as a
legitimate means of achieving civil
rights was in conflict with the
approach of the leaders of the
mainstream CRM and the 2
movements have often been
regarded as antagonistic towards
each other. However, there were
groups and individuals, such as
Stokely Carmichael, who
participated in both – and both
wanted freedom for African
Americans. A range of political goals expressed by BPM was the same as those of
the CRM, including the ending of racial oppression and equal political and civil rights.
, Black Panther
The Black Panther Party was formed in California in
1966 and played a short but important role in the
CRM. The party was originally formed to protect
local communities from police brutality and racism.
The founders were:
- Huey Percy Newton
- Bobby Seale
The party had social and political goals – equality in:
- Education
- Housing
- Employment
- Civil rights
In a 10- Point Plan to achieve these goals, they called for freedom, full employment,
decent housing, teaching of true African American history, an end to police brutality,
an end to murder, and free health care. They also called for a revolutionary war to
achieve their goals of equality and civil rights and were willing to use violence to get
what they wanted.
Community programmes:
The socialist community programmes were an important part of the Panther’s
strategy. Through the programmes they showed how politics were relevant to the
people and that the Panthers cared about the needs of their communities. The
programmes achieved a lot with very limited resources. The first programme
organised was the Free Breakfast for Children Programme. They approached
businessmen for donations and organised boycotts of stores that refused to
contribute. Food was served to the children in church halls and they also organised
and ran medical clinics.
Militancy:
The other
side of the
Panther’s
programmes
was
militancy –
they decided
to take up
their
constitutional
right to carry
arms and to
