Black Power

Question 1

TUs positively influenced by black power

Answer 1

• Movement encouraged abandoning practices within racist unions
• Focused on poverty which was an issue among AAs eg Great Society
• Civil Rights legislation impacted workforce eg 1964 Civil Rights Act and Economic Opportunity Act
• May have encouraged Nixon’s Affirmative Action policy
• Provided help for AAs who lived in ghettos and kept this on the political agenda

Question 2

TUs negatively influenced by black power

Answer 2

• Emphasis on AA solidarity not worker solidarity divided movement
• Focus on poverty and less on labour rights
• Some focus on AA economic position but focus was on culture and black heritage
• Militancy and violence lost support among whites and AAs

Question 3

AAs progress under black power

Answer 3

• Interest in AA culture and dress
• Courses on AA culture ran in schools
• ‘Black is beautiful’ and afro styles
• 1968 black power salute brings worldwide attention to social and economic grievances
• Local groups promoting AA social and economic rights
• 1972 Black Political Convention held to reform
• ‘Identity politics’ inspired new politics and spurred on other civil rights movements
• Focus on brutality with Black Panthers and weapons

Question 4

AAs lack of progress under black power

Answer 4

• Created divisions and tension between races
• It tarnished the name of moderate Civil Rights with violence etc
• MLK criticized its lack of focus on co-operation
• Nixon crushed panthers
• Lacked a base in the South

Question 5

NA progress under black power

Answer 5

• AIM arose as a result of militant Civil Rights groups
• BP encouraged AA unity which may have influenced NAs to abandon tribal divisions which was why they were successful
• Black power militancy encouraged NAs to adopt more aggressive policies of AIM in 1960s and 1970s
• Encouraged abandoning NCAI which was seen as helping those who had done well eg similar focus on poverty
• Red Power coined from Black Power

Question 6

NAs lack of progress under black power

Answer 6

• NAs already united after war eg NIYC 1950s
• They had already achieved success eg National Indian Claims Comission
• More a response to urbanization and end of termination which resulted in result to ghettos and poverty
• Part of general protest environment of the Vietnam War rather than directly BP

Question 7

Women and black power positive

Answer 7

• AA women encouraged to believe ‘black is beautiful’
• Imprisonment of male leaders in BP led to some women taking on positions eg Bukhari.
• Empowered women eg guns and self-defense
• Took part in community spin offs from Black Power such as in healthcare, legislation and political activity
• Encouraged questioning stereotypes and 2nd wave militant feminism

Question 8

Women and black power negative

Answer 8

• Males still in major decision making positions
• Feminism seen by AAs as ‘white women’s movement’
• Separatists had opposed birth control
• Macho and centered around masculinity eg Davis criticized by leaders
• Local activism focused on caring for families etc
• Backlash encouraged conservatism perhaps contributing to failure of ERA