Black Power

Malcolm X

"You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom. "
- Malcolm X

Many black people felt the civil rights movement was achieving the economic, social and political liberation of the race. Some of them, more radical, were disgusted with the slow pace of reform, and felt the need to speed things up and force the issue directly. Among these outspoken black people was Malcolm X, a black muslim who demanded not just equality, but advocated a black revolution as a response to the oppression and inequality black people experienced. Malcolm X looked at the history of black people in America and pointed out how they were still suffering from slave mentality on the part of both the white establishment, and their own thinking.

"Say it loud, I'm Black and I'm proud"
- James Brown

Around this time, black students on college campuses were demanding classes that focused on black history and minority studies, rather than the standard white version of history. Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) chairman, Stokely Charmichael, used the term Black Power to create an awareness among blacks of their human rights and ability to change their own circumstances without reliance on the white power structure for improving the lot of black people

Eldridge Cleaver & Stokely Carmichael

"The struggle of our people for freedom has progressed to the form where all of us must take a stand either for or against the freedom of our people You are either with Your People or against them. You are either part of the solution or part of the problem."
- Eldridge Cleaver

Eldridge Cleaver's landmark bestselling book, Soul on Ice, broke new literary ground by airing Black people's grievences against white society, and pointing out that black anger was rooted in hundreds of years of psychological oppression by whites. Cleaver went on to become the Minister of Information for the Black Panther Party.

"Black is beautiful "

American Athletes give Black Power salute at Olympics

"We have two evils to fight, capitalism and racism. We must destroy both racism and capitalism."
- Huey P. Newton

The Black Panther Party was founded by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale and embraced the teachings of Malcolm X. The Black Panthers set out to change the way black people were being treated in America. First they wanted to protect blacks from police harrassment and brutality. To this end, they advocated arming black people with weapons and using them when necessary to defend oneself. When you realize that most of the leaders of the Black Panthers were former US military men, many of whom served in Vietnam, you know they weren't bluffing.

Panthers

"No matter how much money you make in the black community, when you go into the white world you are still a nigger, you are still a nigger, you are still a nigger."
- Stokely Carmichael

The second thing the Panthers wanted to achieve was economic and political equality for black people. To achieve this they felt it necessary to reject the existing system and set about creating an independent self-supporting political and economic system. Black Panthers setup many new community services including feeding the poor, teaching young children black history and black pride and free medical services.

Black Panthers at Capitol

"We have dedicated our lives, our blood, to the freedom and liberation of our people, and nothing, no force can stop us from achieving our goal. If it is necessary to destroy the United States of America, then let us destroy it with a smile on our faces."
- Eldridge Cleaver

But most significantly, the Black Panthers preached revolution, and if an armed struggle was needed, they were ready. The Panthers were perhaps the most credible threat to the existing American society in that they were well organized, highly motivated, very well armed and trained. And given the state of civil rights in the country in the late 60s, the time was right.