Malcolm X and the Black Power movement

Question 1

What did most black nationalists reject?

Answer 1

The non-violent methods of the civil rights movement (felt violence was justified to achieve equality).

Question 2

What group was headed by Elijah Muhammad?

Answer 2

Nation of Islam

Question 3

Now 2 famous members of the Nation of Islam?

Answer 3

• Muhammad Ali (boxer previously own as Cassius Clay)

- Malcolm X (real surname Little)

Question 4

What did Malcolm X want?

Answer 4

• criticised non-violent methods of Martin Luther King (believed tactics held back black people)
• African Americans to rise up and create own separate black state in USA (using force if necessary) and encourage pride in black history and culture

Question 5

What did the SNCC stand for?

Answer 5

Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee

Question 6

Who became chairman of the SNCC in 1966 and what did he believe?

Answer 6

• Stokely Carmichael
• ‘Black Power’- entire nation racist from top to bottom and only functions by power
• Criticised Martin Luther King

Question 7

Which group believed African Americans should arm themselves and force whites to give them equal rights?

Answer 7

Black Panthers (had 2,000 members, political party but also had own smell private army)

Question 8

How many police officers and Black Panthers died from clashes between the two 1967 and 1969?

Answer 8

9 police and 24 Black Panthers

Question 9

Why was the location of the race riots between 1965-67 surprising?

Answer 9

In cities in the north and west- large numbers of African Americans lived there and were supposed to be ‘officially’ free from racism (not in the Southern states were discrimination was obvious).

Question 10

What caused the race riots between 1965-67?

Answer 10

• Poor relations between the police and African Americans
• Most police were white
• Many working class African Americans lived in inner cities (often very poor areas) and felt police did not give them the same protection from crimes as white people
• Racist behaviour from police
• unemployment and poor housing

Question 11

Where and when was the worst riots?

Answer 11

Watts Riots in LA (1965)

Detroit (1967)

Question 12

How many days did the Watts Riots last and how many died?

Answer 12

6 days and 34 died

Question 13

In what ways has the ‘Black Power’ movement been misrepresented?

Answer 13

• media coverage at the time was misinformed (coverage based on fear and a lack of understanding about the movement)
• Black Power and Civil Rights campaign often seen as very separate and divided but Martin Luther King and Stokely Carmichael were friendly and they did share common aims - need to fight poverty, opposed to Vietnam War, pride in black culture etc

Question 14

How can the ‘Black Power’ movement be negatively viewed?

Answer 14

• radicals alarmed and scared moderates (potential white supporters of civil rights)
• seen to have been partly responsible for the race riots
• gave the police and the law an excuse to ‘crack down’ on African American activists