Alternative Philosophy: Black Power Flashcards
The Rise of Black Power
Context
By 1966 seen as alternate philosophy to non-violence
Became more popular as divisions grew
The Rise of Black Power
Principles
Rejection of non-violence
Rejection of black and white co-operation
‘Black Nationalism’ - self-determination
‘Black Supremacy’ - black people should control own destiny
Demands for effective + fair implementation of law
Radical social and econmic change
Racial Pride
Key Examples
Olympic Games 1968
Mexico City, men’s 400m
Black American athletes** Tommy Smith **and John Carlos made Black Power salute wearing black leather gloves
No shoes as solidarity, Smith wore black scarf as black pride, Carlos wore a necklace of beads for those lynched
**Neither athlete represented US again **- opposition to political statements from Olympic Committee
Key Examples
Miles Davis
Formed all-black band, used non-Western instruments, and ideas from trad African music + modern black styles (James Brown, Jimi Hendrix)
Fought to have pictures of black women on his album covers,** Bitches Brew** used imagery from traditional African art.
Rise of Malcolm X
Nation of Islam
Established 1930, run by Elijah Muhammad 1934-75
Belief Allah created black people, evil scientist Yakub created other races
Urged separation of blacks + whites, black economic independence, independent black nation, pride in black culture, and religious committment
Rise of Malcolm X
Who Was He?
Member of NOI, televised interview in ‘The Hate that Hate Produced’ encouraged black Americans to join
Rejected working with whites, connected with working class black men
Rise of Malcolm X
Beliefs/Actions
Favoured separatism
Rejected advocacy of non-violence, argued it disarmed the oppressed, and that black people should ‘take whatever steps are necessary’
1963 - attack on Civil Rights Movement, ‘Farce on Washington’, and called JFK’s assassination ‘chickens coming home to roost’
Left NOI in 1964
Rise of Malcolm X
Significance
Championed alternate philosophy to non-violence, resonated with disaffected, black working class
Found audiences King hadn’t appealed to
Advocated for pride + separation, and distance from gov
Led to more agressive campaigns
Black Panthers
Key Beliefs
1966, Oakland California
Advocated black nationalism, wore black uniform
Ten point programme involving full employment, decent housing, improvements in ghettos, and end to police brutality
Black Panthers
Reach
Only 5000 members in 30 urban chapters (Oakland, Boston, Chicago etc)
But newsletter had circulation of around 250,000 by 1969
Black Panthers - Actions
Ghetto Programmes
Over 40 clinics advising on health, welfare, and legal rights
Breakfast programmes for thousands of black schoolchildren, raised awareness of sickle cell anemia (disproportionately affects black people)
1969 - first Liberation School, summer school for black children in Berkeley
Black Panthers - Actions
Police Brutality
Stockpiled weapons for self defence, followed police to expose brutality (shoot-outs ensued)
1967 - Black Panthers surrounded and entered California State Legislature to protest repressive legislation
Black Panthers
FBI Clampdown
Post FBI clampdown, Black Panthers declined by 1972
Police raids + covert efforts of counterintelligence led to Panther leaders suspecting each other
1969 - 28 members killed by police in shootouts
Black Panthers
Significance
Panthers sparked conservative backlash as gov aimed to clamp down
Exemplified image of black pride + strength
Many programmes in ghettos led to de facto change
Student Movement - SNCC
Black Power (1967)
Stokey Carmichael leader of SNCC from 1966
Set out characteristics of Black Power movement and claimed non-violence was ‘foolish’ in this book
Enivisaged integration, but only if black Americans accepted as equals
Student Movement - SNCC
Radicalist Turn
December 1966 SNCC expelled all white members
1967 - Henry ‘Rap’ Brown became chairperson
25th July 1967 - speech in Cambridge Maryland, called on black Americans to take over white owned stores in ghettos
Student Movement - SNCC
Splits Evident
James Meredith’s march through Mississippi - he was shot + hospitalised
King’s SCLC chanted ‘Freedom now’, Carmichael’s SNCC chanted ‘Black Power’ and urged burning of courthouses
Carmichael argued he would no longer work with NAACP
Student Movement
CORE
1966 - Floyd McKissick became chairperson
July 1966 - CORE annual convention (Baltimore), he endorsed Black Power
1967 - word ‘multiracial’ removed from CORE constitiution
1968 - whites excluded from CORE
CORE
Significance
Both student groups rejected cooperation with white authorities and activists
Younger generation of activists more supportive of alternative ‘black power’ philosophy and opposing integration
