THE BLACK POWER MOVEMENT

TIME LINE

DATE EVENT
16 June 1966 Black Power Movement was started and led by
Stokely Carmichael
15 October 1966 Black Panther Party founded by Bobby Seale and
Huey Newton
1967 – 1968 The BPP clashed with the police 9 police officers were
killed
1969 The BPP organised Free Breakfast for Children’s
Programme
1980 The BPP disbanded because of internal disputes
11.3 KEY CONCEPTS

An ideology of instilling pride, self – reliance, solidarity

among African Americans to challenge white supremacy
(racism)
Black Power
OR
A philosophy that promotes black pride, unity and self-
reliance
A social and political movement that promotes the unity of
Black Nationalism black people to form their nation

A Manifesto (policy) of the Black Panther Party that

Ten Point Plan promoted community programmes which were socialist in
nature
Militant A person who achieves his/her goal by using force
Radical Wanting immediate change
Segregation Separation of people according to their race and gender
Conspiracy A plot to do something which is harmful and illegal
A group of people considered to be superior in a particular
Elite
society or organisation
Enfranchisement Having the right to vote
Being well informed, open to different views and ideas and
Enlightenment
free from prejudice or ignorance
Martyr Someone who dies for what he /she believes in
The sense of belonging to a nation that people feel
because they share similar backgrounds and common
Nationalism
culture characteristics, which often produces a policy of
national independence
Oppressor A person of authority who dominates and subjugates others
Supremacist A person who insists that one group is better than another
QUESTION 4.1

The Black Power Movement was concerned with the promotion of black power,

instilling black pride and the development of self-respect among African Americans.

Do you agree with the statement? Support your line of argument with relevant
evidence.

QUESTION 4.2

Explain to what extent the ideas and actions of Malcolm X, Stokely Carmichael and the
Black Panther Party gave African Americans a new sense of identity in the United
States of America during the 1960s.

QUESTION 4.3

The Black Power Movement was concerned with the promotion of black power, instilling
black pride and the development of self-respect among African Americans.

Critically discuss this statement using relevant evidence to support your line of

argument.

RESPONSES TO ACTIVITY 4

QUESTION 4.1

[Plan and construct an original argument based on relevant evidence using analytical
and interpretative skills]

SYNOPSIS
Candidates should indicate whether they agree with the statement that the Black Power
Movement was concerned with the promotion of black power, instilling black pride and
the development of self-respect among African Americans.

MAIN ASPECTS
Candidates should include the following aspects in their response:
Introduction: Candidates need to indicate whether they agree that the Black Power
Movement was concerned with the promotion of black power, the instilling of black pride
and the development of self-respect among African Americans. Candidates should take
a line of argument and indicate how they would support it.

Elaboration
Reasons for the emergence of the Black Power Movement
 living in ghettos and slum areas/poor housing; under-resourced facilities (schools,
health etc); lack of jobs and poverty; slow pace of change/loss of faith in the Civil
Rights Movement
 Attempts at promotion of the Black Power philosophy.
 Malcolm X is regarded as the intellectual father of ‘Black Power’
 The role of Malcolm X: (influential through: calling for black separation, fighting for
self-determination and advocating for self-respect and self-discipline)
His pilgrimage to Mecca made him change his philosophy after he witnessed
Muslims of all races living and praying
 The role of Stokely Carmichael who advocated for the principles of Black Power (do
things for themselves; control politics in their communities; take pride in their own
culture; defend themselves against racial oppression and manipulation and in 1966
he popularised the Black Power slogan ‘Black is beautiful’.
 Promoting the concept of African identity through slogans such as: 'Black is
beautiful', promoting Afro hairstyle and African clothing.
 Acknowledgement of African heritage, music and literature.
 The role of the Black Panther Party (for self-defence) – put into action Black
Power/Black Pride philosophy
 Attempts at instilling racial pride
 Accepting African identity
 The Ten-point plan of the Black Panther Party (covered its social, political and
economic goals)
 Community development projects (feeding schemes, school tasks etc)
 Educational programmes (e.g., teaching African history)
 Attempts at development of self-respect
 Assertiveness (e.g., race riots in Watts, Detroit and Newark)
 Wanted African Americans to stand up against white America authorities in pursuit of
freedom, justice and equality by whatever means possible
 Any other relevant response
Conclusion: Candidates should tie up their argument with a relevant conclusion.
[50]

Restate the main point taken in your introduction by using other words
Do not present new information
Present one or two general sentences which accurately summarise your
argument which support the main point.

QUESTION 4.2
[Plan and construct an original argument based on relevant evidence using analytical
and interpretative skills]

SYNOPSIS
Candidates are expected to indicate to what extent the ideas and actions of Malcolm X,
Stokely Carmichael and the Black Panther Party gave African Americans a new sense
of identity in the United States of America during the 1960s.

MAIN ASPECTS
Candidates should include the following aspects in their response:
Introduction: Candidates are expected to indicate to what extent the ideas and actions
of Malcolm X, Stokely Carmichael and the Black Panther Party gave African Americans
a new sense of identity in the United States of America during the 1960s.Candidates
must provide relevant historical evidence to support their argument.

Elaboration
 The situation in the USA before the 1960s (Background)
 Lack of political organisation for African Americans, lack of a strong cultural identity
among African Americans, lack of a sense of pride due to socio-economic
circumstances (Background)

Ideas and actions of Malcolm X

 An influential speaker and a dedicated human rights activist
 Believed in black separation, self-determination (black nationalism) and he advocated
self-respect and self-discipline
 Promoted the concept of 'Black Pride' (self- esteem/self- respect/self - help)
 Encouraged African Americans to stand up against white American authorities in
pursuit of freedom, justice and equality by whatever means possible
 Supported the use of violence as a means of self defence against those who attacked
African Americans.
 Any other relevant response.

Stokely Carmichael
 Believed that non-violence was a strategy that was not working because of ongoing
violence that was used by some white Americans against African Americans.
 Advocated the principles of Black Power (do things for yourself; control politics in
their communities; take pride in own culture and defend themselves against racial
oppression and manipulation)
 He was critical of USA involvement in the Vietnam war and promoted a plan to split
the United states of America into separate black and white countries

 Advocated the exclusion of white 'liberals' as a philosophy for African Americans

 In 1966 he popularised the Black Power slogan 'Black is Beautiful'
 Promoted African clothing/Afro hairstyles/music/literature/heritage as symbols of
Black Pride
 Joined the Black Panther Party (for Self-Defence) which put into action the
Black Power/Black Pride philosophy.
 Any other relevant response.
Black Panther Party:
 Put the ideas of the Black Power Movement into action
 Initiated and supported community-based programmes/feeding schemes/anti-
 poverty centres; focused on socio-economic conditions of African Americans and
also operated community survival programmes
 Ten (10) point plan served as the Black Panther manifesto that covered its social,
political and economic goals for the upliftment for African American community
 The Black Panther Party got involved in street patrols; monitored police activities
and defended themselves against police brutality; by carrying guns (militant
approach) to stop the on-going police brutality and harassment of young black men
 Any other relevant response

Conclusion: Candidates should tie up their argument with a relevant conclusion.

[50]

Restate the main point taken in your introduction by using other words
Do not present new information
Present one or two general sentences which accurately summarise your
argument which support the main point.

QUESTION 4.3
[Plan and construct an original argument based on relevant evidence using analytical
and interpretative skills]

SYNOPSIS
Candidates should indicate whether the statement is accurate and explain why. They
must support the answer with relevant historical evidence relating to Black Power,
instilling of racial pride and the development of self-respect among African Americans in
the USA in the 1960s.

MAIN ASPECTS
Candidates should include the following aspects in their response:
Introduction: Candidates should indicate whether the statement is accurate and
explain why. They must support the answer with relevant historical evidence relating to
Black Power, instilling of racial pride and the development of self-respect among African
Americans in the USA in the 1960s. Candidates should take a line of argument and
indicate how they would support it.

Elaboration
 Reasons for the emergence of the Black Power Movement: living in ghettos and slum
areas/poor housing; under-resourced facilities (schools, health etc); lack of jobs and
poverty; slow pace of change/loss of faith in the Civil Rights Movement
 Attempts at promotion of the Black Power philosophy
 The role of Malcolm X: (influential through: calling for black separation, fighting for
self-determination and advocating for self-respect and self-discipline)
 The role of Stokely Carmichael who advocated for the principles of Black Power (do
things for themselves; control politics in their communities; take pride in their own
culture; defend themselves against racial oppression and manipulation and in 1966
he popularised the Black Power slogan ‘Black is beautiful’.
 Promoting the concept of African identity through slogans such as: 'Black is beautiful',
promoting Afro hairstyle and African clothing.
 Acknowledgement of African heritage, music and literature
 The role of the Black Panther Party (for self-defence) – put into action Black
Power/Black Pride philosophy
 Attempts at instilling racial pride
 Accepting African identity
 The Ten-point plan of the Black Panther Party (covered its social, political and
economic goals)
 Community development projects (feeding schemes, school tasks etc)
 Educational programmes (e.g., teaching African history)
 Attempts at development of self-respect
 Assertiveness (e.g., race riots in Watts, Detroit and Newark)
 Wanted African Americans to stand up against white America authorities in pursuit of
freedom, justice and equality by whatever means possible
 Any other relevant response
Conclusion: Candidates should tie up their argument with a relevant conclusion.
[50]
Restate the main point taken in your introduction by using other words
Do not present new information
Present one or two general sentences which accurately summarise your
argument which support the main point.