WHAT WAS BLACK POWER, WHY DID IT EMERGE IN THE FREEDOM MOVEMENT AFTER 1965

What was black power, why did it emerge in the freedom movement after 1965, and how in what ways did it impact African American history?

What was black power, why did it emerge in the freedom movement after 1965, and how in what ways did it impact African American history?

Throughout American history there have been individuals who have advocated and sought the achievement by black Americans of full racial equality. Any impression that civil rights became an 'issue' in the 1950's is seriously misguided, for both philosophies of black advancement and actual instance of black protest date from the days of slavery. Therefore to fully comprehend the events of the 1950's and 1960's an awareness of the various currents that have characterised American black thought is important. These currents are responsible for, and interwoven into the tapestry of black American history and the debates, conflicts, complexities and ambiguities of the earlier years of this century frequently inform and provide the basis of similar debates in the 1950's and '60's.

The ideology of 'black power' emerged as a reaction to these events and the perceived failure of the 'middle-class' black leaders to address the problems of the Northern cities. Its philosophy provided a more radical analysis of power relationships and the black person's position within American society. Reform of the system was, it believed, inadequate and no meaningful 'integration' could take place until the gross imbalance of power between blacks and whites had been rectified. Only through the 'closing of ranks', the development of a strong racial unity and identity, could a strong power base be created. Only on the basis of such a "position of strength" could black Americans participate fully in the decision making process. Belief in the possibility of effectively aligning black and white 'life-chances' through peaceful persuasion using acceptable institutional channels, including peaceful protest, was rejected as being premised on a misconceived understanding of the nature of political arrangements. Carmichael and Hamilton argued that the political and economic institutions of American society were themselves inherently racist and that these "institutions...must be completely revised if the political and economic status of black people is to be improved...We do not see how those same institutions can be utilised... to bring about that revision".

For advocates of 'black power' the King led civil rights movement's faith in their ...