Civil Rights - Black Power Flashcards
What did Malcolm X leave the Nation of Islam to form?
Organisation of African-American Unity (OAAU)
What was the message of Black Power?
Racial pride. It was the formation of black political and cultural organisations in order to endure black liberation and autonomy
What were the foundations and beliefs of the Nation of Islam?
Founded by Wallace Fard Muhammad who believed that the first humans created by God were black but through selective breeding white people emerged and enslaved the blacks. This idea, which asserts the superiority of blacks, is called black supremacism. Fard believed in separatism (blacks choosing to live on their own, having a self-governing all-black state in the territory of North America)
What was the Nation of Islam’s message to black men?
To clean themselves up and do something for themselves to work hard and stay dignified (don’t break the law)
Outline Malcolm X’s early life
Extremely disadvantaged: Black Legion killed his father when he was 6 and his mother suffered a nervous breakdown so he went into foster care. He dropped out of school and moved to New York where he got involved in criminal activity and went to prison for 10 years.
How did Malcolm X get involved with the Nation of Islam?
In prison he was deeply effected by the Nation of Islam’s message and became highly self-disciplined. After his release from prison in 1952 he became a significant influence and could relate to working class black men. Between 1952 and 1953 membership of the Detroit Temple tripled due to his influence. He got more responsibility due to his influence.
What did Malcolm X call MLK?
‘twentieth-centry Uncle Tom’ (someone who doesn’t stand up for their rights and who has a slavish attitude)
What did Malcolm X say about civil rights organisations?
He said that the SCLC and NAACP were taken in by the American Dream and trusted the American system, and therefore would never be able to set black people free.
What did Malcolm X accuse MLK of doing?
Claimed that he was being paid by the white government to preach Christianity love and forgiveness, preventing black people from fighting their own battles
What were Malcolm X’s original views on integration?
Saw it as bringing in a new form of slavery. In the North it had led to an underclass of black people who were addicted to drugs and wasted their money on gambling, alcohol and prostitution. He said this was a trap set by the whites to prevent the improvement of black life
What is meant by black nationalism?
- Political Black Nationalism: black people governing themselves
- Economic Black Nationalism: black people controlling the economy within their community
Only possible in a black community that excluded white people
What were Malcolm X’s views towards violence?
Believed non-violent strategies emphasised the stereotype of blacks being weak and defenceless and that white racists (the government) didn’t respect peaceful protest and it could not bring about substantial change. He said it was impossible to love someone who has beaten/raped/killed you/your race.
He argued self defence was a natural and empowering response to hatred. He said that black Americans should liberate themselves ‘by all means necessary’
Why did Malcolm X leave the Nation of Islam?
His fame made Muhammed jealous and some of his statements embarrassed him (e.g JFK’s assassination at ‘chickens coming home to roost’). Led to tensions so Malcolm X left.
When did Malcolm X leave the Nation of Islam?
March 1964
What was the message of the OAAU?
Drew links between white oppression in American and the anti-colonial struggle in Africa. Aimed to organise and re-educate black Americans to gain economic security for black people across the world
What did the OAAU organise?
- Voter registration campaigns
- School boycotts where black education was bad
- Rent strikes were housing was bad
- Social programmed to help drug addicts
- Published textbooks to re-educate blacks
What were Malcolm X’s latter views towards Integration?
- 1964 speech ‘The Ballot or the Bullet’ he advocated working within the political system to elect black politicians.
- He showed willingness to work with CORE and SNCC to improve black conditions.
- After his Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) he saw integration in harmony, leading him to embrace the idea of integration in America
How and when did Malcolm X die?
February 1965
Shot 15 times by members of the Nation of Islam ordered by Muhammed
What happened after Malcolm X died?
The OAAU collapsed, but many of its aims became central to other radical groups, particularly the SNCC and the Black Panther Party.
What was Malcolm X’s significance?
His ability to express the feelings of America’s black working class
What were the main sources of tension within the Civil Rights Movement?
- Disagreements over methods
- Disagreements over goals
- Personality clashes
- Jealousy and rivalry over media attention, public recognition
Who were the moderate civil rights groups and why were they moderate?
NAACP
NUL
Due to their commitment to work through the courts and their willingness to work with America’s white population.
Who were the radical groups and why were they radical?
CORE
SNCC
Because the advocated self defence
What group was criticised by both the radicals and the moderates and why?
MLK and the SCLC
Moderates thought they were too radical, radicals attacked them for being too moderate
What were the 4 major issues leading to splits in the movement?
- Use of violence
- Extent to which blacks and whites should collaborate
- How far de jure change could lead to de facto change
- Extent to which blacks should want integration
What made the SNCC commit to self-defense tactics?
Shooting of James Meredith in 1966
Stokely Carmichael said it underlined the need for blacks to use violence to defend themselves.
1968 he proposed using violence against the US government.
Who was CORE’s leader 1942-66 and why did he resign?
James Farmer
Resigned due to CORE’s increasing radicalism
What were the moderate groups’ views towards collaboration?
Believed it would make the movement stronger and welcomed white members
What were the radical groups’ views towards collaboration?
Saw it as dangerous.
Believed that blacks should liberate themselves.
Said that whites couldn’t understand the experiences of black people or the problems that they faced.
Who was Stokely Carmichael?
Leader of the SNCC
What were Stokely Carmichael’s views towards Integration?
That traditional campaigns such as the Brown Case only changed education for a minority of blacks. In order to address this, black people needed to campaign for control over local schools in order to ensure a high standard of education for black students
What were some civil rights campaigners’ views towards King?
That he dominated the movement and was a glory seeker who used campaigns to make a name for himself and that he was controlled by the white government
What were the SNCC’s criticisms of King?
King suggested that SNCC should become the ‘student wing’ of SCLC but they wanted to remain independent. They saw him at treating them as just junior partners
