Depth studies: Malcom X and Black Power Flashcards
Positive impacts of Malcolm X and Black power on African Americans. (4)
1) Black Power created greater interest in African American culture, courses were run on culture in schools and universities.
2) The term ‘black is beautiful’ and ‘afro’ hairstyles signified a move away from trying to copy white Americans in appearance and dress.
3) 1972 National Black Political Convention was held to urge reform.
4) Greater publicity for social grievances – in 1968 at the Mexico City Olympics, two African American Athletes gave the Black Power salute.
Positive impacts of Malcolm X and Black power on Labour and trade unions. (4)
1) The movement further encouraged the abandonment of racist practices in unions.
2) Focus on poverty helped to improve the position of many African-American workers.
3) Civil rights legislation that was influenced by the movement such as the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 had a a positive impact on the workforce.
4) It may have encouraged Nixon’s policy of affirmative action.
Positive impacts of Malcolm X and Black power on women. (7)
1) Many women were encouraged to be proud of their culture and embraced the term ‘black is beautiful’ through awareness of black hairstyles, clothing and sexuality.
2) By the 1970s, 2/3 of Black Panther membership was female.
3) Women often trained alongside men and in propaganda were often portrayed as revolutionaries.
4) Women stood alongside men and the slogan: ‘revolutionary first and sister second’ inspired many women to be active in terms of political activity and direct action.
5) Women were important local leaders often supporting African-American women in issues such as healthcare, education, legal problems and housing.
6) Women were given arms and had heavy involvement in protests.
7) The panthers set up crèches for pregnant women as well as the breakfast clubs.
Positive impacts of Malcolm X and Black power on Native Americans (4)
1) Many historians have argued that the militant, American Indian movement (AIM) was influenced by Black Power.
2) The Black power movement may have inspired Native Americans to abandon the peaceful methods of protest which had so far been unsuccessful.
3) The pressure that Black Power was able to exert on the government was something that so far Native Americans had not achieved.
4) Red Power mirrored the tactics of the Black Power movement and emphasised pride in Native American culture.
Limitations of the impact of Malcolm X and Black power on Native Americans. (5)
1) On the other hand many historians have argued that after the second world war, there was greater unity between Native Americans and therefore they did not need the influence of Black Power.
2) Success by NAI pressure groups had already resulted in the establishment of the Indian Claims Commission.
3) Militancy was already evident amongst some groups such as the National Indian Youth council.
4) Changing attitudes of Presidents such as Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon encouraged groups to take up their causes.
5) The growing militancy was much more of a response to the horrific conditions in which they found themselves following the policy of termination.
Limitations of the impacts of Malcolm X and Black power on Women. (7)
1) Women were often relegated to supporting roles within the movement.
2) Feminism was seen by male black activists as ‘a white woman thing’.
3) Revolutionary activity was often seen as the preserve of male activists.
4) Local activism often fell into traditional roles associated with the domestic sphere such as caring for families and supporting other women.
5) Blaxploitation often represented women in a negative light.
6) The NOI were very conservative, Malcolm X preached traditional gender roles and Elijah Muhammed was renowned for affairs.
7) Women were often left to make the breakfast In the breakfast prgrammes or to answer the telephones.
Limitations of the impacts of Malcolm X and Black power on trade union and labour. (3)
1) Militancy and violence of black power lost support amongst whites and some African-Americans.
2) It created greater divisions and disunity by emphasising African American worker solidarity as opposed to worker solidarity.
3) Their economic focus was on the poverty in which a large number of African-Americans lived, as opposed to labour and trade union rights.
Limitations of the impacts of Malcolm X and Black power on African Americans (4).
1) The divisions between whites and blacks that the movement created led to fears of and greater repression, which weakened the impact of the movement.
2) The association of civil rights with separatism, violence and radicalism alienated moderate opinion and weakened support extension of civil rights.
3) In 1967, MLK criticised the movement for failing to realise that progress depends on inter-racial cooperation.
4) Police repression was used against the radical leaders.
