BLACK POWER MOVEMENT ESSAY
The philosophy of the BPM inspired African Americans to be assertive and do things for
themselves during the 1960’s. Discuss to what extent this statement is true.
The philosophy of the BPM inspired African Americans to be assertive and do things for
themselves during the 1960’s to a greater extent. It aimed to emphasise racial pride,
economic empowerment, and the creation of political and cultural institutions. One of the
main inspirations was Malcom X, a human rights activist. He stood for ‘separate but equal’
amongst black and white. Furthermore, Stockely Carmichael used Malcolm X as a major
influence and helped form the Black Panther Party which was an African American
revolutionary organisation that was formed to patrol Black neighbourhoods to protect
residents from police brutality and create self help programs to inspire black pride and create
a sense of identity.
The Civil Rights Movement (CRM) specifically used non-violent actions and methods of
protesting. However, for many African Americans (AA) the continued threat of violence was
not an equal price to pay for progress. The CRM used the constitution to focus on ending
segregation in the south but it did not address racism and black poverty in the northern
states. Although the CRM achieved a lot from 1955-1965, many AA did not see a difference
in their daily lives in the north. However, the Black Power Movement (BPM) began to gain
momentum and addressed the issues that many AA were living through. While the CRM
offered integration into white society, the BPM offered a uniquely black identity, creating
pride in being black. Many AA felt so tired of the police brutality and humiliation by inequality
that they turned to the BPM as it justified the use of force in the struggle for equality. It was
the philosophy of the BPM that inspired the AA to be assertive and bold.
Stokely Carmichael was a bridge between the CRM and the BPM. He was originally involved
in the CRM and more specifically, in the SNCC. He felt inspired by seeing all the black
protestors at sit ins in segregated restaurants in the south and decided to join the movement.
However, He became disillusioned with the non-violence aspect of the CRM. He felt that
force should be met with force and preached black power and pride rather than the ‘freedom’
of the CRM. The aim of the BPM was to liberate blacks from internalised oppression and
inferiority. In 1966 he popularised the phrase ‘black is beautiful’ which emphasized pride in
blackness. In 1967 he stepped down from the SNCC and joined Black Power Party and the
Black Panthers. Part of their mission statement was that white liberals should work in white
communities to promote non-violence while blacks should be independent in their fight
against oppression. The BPM encouraged black entrepreneurship and black businesses.
Additionally, it promoted African literature, music, fashion, theatre and hairstyles which
raised people’s cultural pride and self identity. Furthermore, he promoted pan-africanism and
pride in being black. This was evident when he moved to Guinea.
The philosophy of the BPM inspired African Americans to be assertive and do things for
themselves during the 1960’s. Discuss to what extent this statement is true.
The philosophy of the BPM inspired African Americans to be assertive and do things for
themselves during the 1960’s to a greater extent. It aimed to emphasise racial pride,
economic empowerment, and the creation of political and cultural institutions. One of the
main inspirations was Malcom X, a human rights activist. He stood for ‘separate but equal’
amongst black and white. Furthermore, Stockely Carmichael used Malcolm X as a major
influence and helped form the Black Panther Party which was an African American
revolutionary organisation that was formed to patrol Black neighbourhoods to protect
residents from police brutality and create self help programs to inspire black pride and create
a sense of identity.
The Civil Rights Movement (CRM) specifically used non-violent actions and methods of
protesting. However, for many African Americans (AA) the continued threat of violence was
not an equal price to pay for progress. The CRM used the constitution to focus on ending
segregation in the south but it did not address racism and black poverty in the northern
states. Although the CRM achieved a lot from 1955-1965, many AA did not see a difference
in their daily lives in the north. However, the Black Power Movement (BPM) began to gain
momentum and addressed the issues that many AA were living through. While the CRM
offered integration into white society, the BPM offered a uniquely black identity, creating
pride in being black. Many AA felt so tired of the police brutality and humiliation by inequality
that they turned to the BPM as it justified the use of force in the struggle for equality. It was
the philosophy of the BPM that inspired the AA to be assertive and bold.
Stokely Carmichael was a bridge between the CRM and the BPM. He was originally involved
in the CRM and more specifically, in the SNCC. He felt inspired by seeing all the black
protestors at sit ins in segregated restaurants in the south and decided to join the movement.
However, He became disillusioned with the non-violence aspect of the CRM. He felt that
force should be met with force and preached black power and pride rather than the ‘freedom’
of the CRM. The aim of the BPM was to liberate blacks from internalised oppression and
inferiority. In 1966 he popularised the phrase ‘black is beautiful’ which emphasized pride in
blackness. In 1967 he stepped down from the SNCC and joined Black Power Party and the
Black Panthers. Part of their mission statement was that white liberals should work in white
communities to promote non-violence while blacks should be independent in their fight
against oppression. The BPM encouraged black entrepreneurship and black businesses.
Additionally, it promoted African literature, music, fashion, theatre and hairstyles which
raised people’s cultural pride and self identity. Furthermore, he promoted pan-africanism and
pride in being black. This was evident when he moved to Guinea.
