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Summary Civil Rights in the USA: In-depth studies: Malcolm X and Black Power
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All key information pertaining to women, native Americans, African Americans, and trade unions in relation to Malcolm X and Black Power.
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Malcolm X and Black Power:African Americans:
Malcolm X and Black Power’s differences from the Civil Rights movement:
- Malcolm X:
- Malcolm X became a leading member of the Nation of Islam (NOI) and argued for
pride in African American heritage, rejecting the idea of relying on white support to
gain rights.
- Unlike King, he focused on social and economic change rather than political. He
spoke for the poor African Americans in the North.
- Malcolm X rejected non-violence and believed in self-defence.
- In 1963, he was dismissed from the NOI and, after travelling Africa and Asia, came
to believe more in cooperating with the mainstream civil rights movement. He was
assassinated by the NOI in 1965 before he could fully do that.
- The Black Power movement:
- Black Power derived its ideology mostly from Malcolm X (in opposing the
over-reliance of the civil rights movement on white support), anti-colonialism
theories, the example of African nationalists forming new independent nations, and
previous separatist movements such as Marcus Garvey's.
- Black Power did not have a unified aim. It also didn’t have much of a base in the
South, but it spread across the US and even influenced other countries (such as
Jamaica and Britain).
- It rejected cooperation with white Americans and saw African American civil rights
in a wider context of African history and culture.
Lack of Progress:
- The divisions between white and African Americans increased and led to fears and
repression, which weakened the impact of the movement and its ability to make changes.
- The association of civil rights with separatism, violence and radicalism alienated the
moderate opinion and weakened support for further extension of civil rights.
- In 1967, Martin Luther King was critical of the movement’s failure to see that progress
depends on interracial cooperation.
- The power of the US state was too great and a considerable amount of police repression
was used against the radical leaders.
- Many whites, and a number of blacks, saw the movement as a black separatist
organisation bent on segregating blacks and whites and undoing the important work of the
civil rights movement.
- Some Black Power leaders suggested that blacks receive paramilitary training and carry
guns to protect themselves. Though these individuals insisted this device was solely a
means of self-defence and not a call to violence, it was still unnerving to think of armed
civilians walking the streets.
- Because the Black Power movement was never a formally organised movement, it had no
central leadership, which meant that different organisations with divergent agendas often
could not agree on the best course of action. The more radical groups accused the more
mainstream groups of capitulating to whites, and the more mainstream accused the more
radical of becoming too ready to use violence.
- The Black Power movement did not succeed in getting blacks to break away from white
society and create a separate society. Nor did it help end discrimination or racism.
Gains in Progress:
- There was greater interest in African American history, music, distinctive dress and
appearance. Black people in the United States were encouraged to acknowledge their
African heritage. Colleges and universities established black studies programs and black
studies departments.
- There were powerful new ideas of aesthetics - the term ‘black is beautiful’ became linked to
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