The Challenge of Black The Challenge of Black PowerPower

Angela BrownAngela BrownChapter 29 Section 4Chapter 29 Section 4

1964 Martin Luther King Jr. won 1964 Martin Luther King Jr. won Nobel Nobel Peace Prize.Peace Prize.

Some questioned his approach and the Some questioned his approach and the movement became divided.movement became divided.

Many African Americans Many African Americans angered by the angered by the continuing injustice.continuing injustice.

James BaldwinJames Baldwin 1963 1963 The Fire Next TimeThe Fire Next Time

told how told how oppression had oppression had set African Americans set African Americans apart and made them apart and made them stronger.stronger.

Baldwin’s essays and Baldwin’s essays and novels were novels were powerful powerful descriptions of African descriptions of African American experienceAmerican experience – – Notes of a Native Son.Notes of a Native Son.

http://blogs.citypages.com/pscholtes/images/James%20Baldwin.jpg

Malcolm XMalcolm X Born Malcolm Little in Born Malcolm Little in

Omaha, Nebraska Omaha, Nebraska 1925.1925.

Father a Baptist Father a Baptist Minister who Minister who spread spread Marcus Garvey’s Marcus Garvey’s “back to Africa” “back to Africa” message.message.

Father died during Father died during childhood.childhood.

http://www.jtf.org/america/jjj.malcolm.x.sunglasses.hat.200.jpg

Malcolm turned to a Malcolm turned to a life of crime in life of crime in ghettosghettos of Detroit, Boston, and New York. of Detroit, Boston, and New York.

Arrested for burglary and Arrested for burglary and served seven served seven years in prison years in prison where he where he joined the joined the Nation of IslamNation of Islam called called Black Muslims Black Muslims – – (preached black separation and self-(preached black separation and self-help)help)

http://course.lib.uci.edu/ed/spirit/focusnew/TeacherDevelopment/images/Malcolm%20X.jpg

Black NationalismBlack Nationalism Nation of Islam founded n 1933 in Nation of Islam founded n 1933 in

Chicago by Elijah Muhammad.Chicago by Elijah Muhammad.Taught Taught Allah would bring a “black Allah would bring a “black

nation” union of nonwhite people.nation” union of nonwhite people.Key to Key to self knowledge knowing your self knowledge knowing your

enemyenemy – white society. – white society.

http://www.albany.edu/jmmh/vol1no1/elijahm-1.jpg

Did not seek change through political Did not seek change through political means – means – waited for Allah to create Black waited for Allah to create Black NationNation – tried to – tried to lead righteous lives and lead righteous lives and become economically self-sufficient.become economically self-sufficient.

1952 Malcolm released from prison 1952 Malcolm released from prison – – changed name to Malcolm Xchanged name to Malcolm X – 12 years – 12 years minister of Nationminister of Nation

Malcolm gave fiery speeches to spread Malcolm gave fiery speeches to spread ideas of ideas of black nationalism.black nationalism.

A belief in the separate identity and racial A belief in the separate identity and racial unity of African American community.unity of African American community.

Opposition to IntegrationOpposition to Integration Malcolm X called March on Washington Malcolm X called March on Washington

““Farce on WashingtonFarce on Washington” – rejected ” – rejected integrationintegration

1964 Malcolm X 1964 Malcolm X broke with nation due broke with nation due to disagreement with Muhammad – to disagreement with Muhammad – formed Muslim Mosque, Inc.formed Muslim Mosque, Inc.

Then made a Then made a pilgrimage to Meccapilgrimage to Mecca – holy – holy city of Islam in Saudi Arabiacity of Islam in Saudi Arabia

March on WashingtonMarch on Washingtonhttp://www.tcnj.edu/~brown82/march_on_washington.jpg

MeccaMecca

http://www.arabia.it/english/islam/mecca2.jpg

Seeing Muslims of all races worshipping Seeing Muslims of all races worshipping peacefully peacefully changed his views about changed his views about separatismseparatism and hatred of white people- change and hatred of white people- change upset some of African American community.upset some of African American community.

Returned Returned ready to work with other Civil ready to work with other Civil Rights leadersRights leaders and even some White and even some White Americans.Americans.

Feb 1965 Feb 1965 shot to death at New York rally by shot to death at New York rally by three members of Nation of Islam.three members of Nation of Islam.

The Black Power MovementThe Black Power Movement Stokely CarmichealStokely Carmicheal – SNCC leader – SNCC leader

influenced by Malcolm Xinfluenced by Malcolm XBorn in Trinidad, West Indies in 1941 – Born in Trinidad, West Indies in 1941 –

moved to U.S. at age 11moved to U.S. at age 11Soon Soon tired of nonviolent protest due to tired of nonviolent protest due to

beatings and jailbeatings and jailcalled on SNCC called on SNCC workers to carry guns workers to carry guns

for self-defense for self-defense rejected white activistsrejected white activists

Stokely CarmichealStokely Carmicheal Carmicheal’s idea of Carmicheal’s idea of

black powerblack power called called on African on African Americans “to unite, Americans “to unite, to recognize their to recognize their heritage, to build a heritage, to build a sense of sense of community, to community, to define own goals.define own goals.

http://www.ancient-knowledge-breakthrough.net/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/StokelyCarmichael.jpg

The Black PanthersThe Black Panthers 1966 militant political party formed by 1966 militant political party formed by

activists Bobby Seale and Huey Newton.activists Bobby Seale and Huey Newton. Wanted African Americans to Wanted African Americans to lead own lead own

communitiescommunities and and demanded federal demanded federal government rebuild ghettos to make up for government rebuild ghettos to make up for the years of neglect.the years of neglect.

Violent encounters with police Violent encounters with police yet set up day-yet set up day-care centers and free breakfast programs.care centers and free breakfast programs.

Black PanthersBlack Panthers

http://designermagazine.tripod.com/BlackPanthersPIC1.jpg

The Black PanthersThe Black Panthers ““Black is Beautiful” sloganBlack is Beautiful” sloganSNCC and Black Panthers moved away SNCC and Black Panthers moved away

from NAACP and other moderate from NAACP and other moderate groupsgroups = split in civil rights movement = split in civil rights movement

Riots in the StreetsRiots in the StreetsDe jure segregationDe jure segregation – racial separation – racial separation

created created by lawby law – battled early on – battled early onDe facto segregationDe facto segregation – tougher – caused – tougher – caused

by social conditions, povertyby social conditions, poverty, - fact of , - fact of life in most American cities in education, life in most American cities in education, housing, and employmenthousing, and employment

Frustration and anger boiled over into Frustration and anger boiled over into riots in New York City, Rochester, and riots in New York City, Rochester, and New Jersey.New Jersey.

One of most violent riots occurred in One of most violent riots occurred in Los Los Angeles neighborhood of Watts – Aug Angeles neighborhood of Watts – Aug 19651965

Police pulled over a Police pulled over a black man for black man for drunken drivingdrunken driving – peaceful at first but – peaceful at first but when when he resisted arrest an officer he resisted arrest an officer panicked and began swinging his batonpanicked and began swinging his baton

Outraged crowd touched off Outraged crowd touched off six days of six days of rioting.rioting.

National guard and police gained control National guard and police gained control but but 34 people dead –34 people dead – more than more than a a thousand injured.thousand injured.

Federal government set up special Federal government set up special National Advisory Commission on Civil National Advisory Commission on Civil DisordersDisorders to investigate. to investigate.

1n 1968 declared riots an explosion of 1n 1968 declared riots an explosion of smoldering anger in ghettos.smoldering anger in ghettos.

Legacy of the MovementLegacy of the Movement Between 1970-1975 Between 1970-1975 the number of the number of

African American elected officials rose African American elected officials rose by 88%.by 88%.

Black mayors elected in Atlanta, Detroit, Black mayors elected in Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Newark NJ.Los Angeles, and Newark NJ.

Others served in Congress and state Others served in Congress and state legislatures legislatures

(Ex: Barbara Jordan of Texas).(Ex: Barbara Jordan of Texas).