J E A N E TT E C I B E L L I

BLACK NATIONALISM & BLACK POWER

OVERVIEW

Black Nationalism• Pervasive tradition of

thought in black consciousness• Present in various

ideologies & movements• Promotes self-reliance,

self-sufficiency, and black unity

• Sought freedom from white oppression

Black Power• Radical movement with

a set time frame (mid 1960s- mid 1970s) & events

• Emphasized pride in the culture & history of the black race

• Embodies the tenets of black nationalism

• Distrust of whites

PERVASIVENESS OF BLACK NATIONALISM

• Ideas in the South during slave times due to the sense of black unity• Old tradition of thought that has “the capacity of

encompass integration, contemporary liberalism, conservatism, and radicalism” (Smith)• Includes the opposites of separatists (separate nation or

return to Africa is necessary for freedom and equality) and integrationists (freedom and equality are possible in the US)

IDEAS OF BLACK NATIONALISM

• “emphasized the need for black people to rely primarily on themselves in vital areas of life—economic, political, religious, and intellectual—in order to effect their liberation” (Sterling Stuckey)

1. Blamed whites as the source of racial oppression2. Black culture is uniquely strong because it

withheld the loss of identity associated with American slavery

3. Bond of Pan-Africanism4. Black progression through blacks—cannot rely on

other social groups.

MARCUS GARVEY

• 1887-1940• Early activist• Encountered racism

worldwide• 1914 founded the

Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) to unify & progress blacks• Included ideas of black

nationalism

MALCOLM X

• 1925-1965 • Bridge between black nationalism & black power• Troubled childhood of racial harassment & family

issues that led to a 10-year prison sentence• 1949 converted to the Nation of Islam (NOI) & helped

fight against white oppression• Opposed to black activists that worked with sympathetic

whites (“men with black bodies and white heads”)• 1954 became head of NOI temple in Harlem• 1963 power struggle in NOI aimed to keep Malcolm

from leading all of NOI• 1964 quit NOI due to assassination threat

MALCOLM X, CONTINUED

• April 1964 “Ballot or Bullet” speeches • April 3 “So I say, in spreading a gospel such as black nationalism,

it is not designed to make the black man re-evaluate the white man—you know him already—but to make the black man re-evaluate himself.”

• April 12 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9BVEnEsn6Y (47:19- 48:10)

• 1964 pilgrimage to Mecca made him reevaluate his opinion of white men based on Muslim principle of the brotherhood of all humankind• From his 1964 Letters From Abroad: “They practice sincere and

true brotherhood with other people irrespective of their color.”• Feb 13, 1965 assassinated before revised opinion of

whites could spread• Ideas of black pride & self-reliance would be remembered during

the Black Power Movement

BLACK POWER MOVEMENT• Outgrowth of the 1950s & 60s Civil Rights Movement• More radical; supported violence if deemed necessary

• Differed from Civil Rights Movement: CRM tried to integrate & prove that blacks were equal to whites while BPM believed blacks were a strong & valid culture without comparison to whites

• Proud of black heritage• “Black is Beautiful” & “Black Power Salute”• 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City,Sprinters Tommie Smith & John Carlos raised fists during US Anthem

• Opposed white leadership & involvement• Desired distinctly black communities with black control• Controversial riots

STOKELY CARMICHAEL• 1941-1998• Young activist upset with the prejudice that prevailed

in America rather than the promise of equality• Disliked integration because it suggested that the white race

was something blacks should aspire towards• Attended Howard University & joined the Student

Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)• 1960 SNCC Statement of Purpose: “…nonviolence nurtures

the atmosphere in which reconciliation and justice become actual possibilities”

• Participated in various Freedom Rides, sit-ins, and voting demonstrations

• Demonstrations often ended in violence towards blacks, leading Carmichael to become disillusioned with SNCC’s stance on nonviolent civil disobedience (similar to Martin Luther King, Jr.)

STOKELY CARMICHAEL, CONTINUED

• 1966 elected chairman of SNCC• Disposes of white members

• 1966 delivered iconic “black power” speech• Coined term “black power”

• Supported Pan-Africanism & opposed Vietnam War• 1967 left SNCC & joined Black Panther Party in

Oakland, CA• Soon left because they allied with whites

• In later years, Carmichael’s actions & views about American racial progression varied• 1969 emigration to Guinea

• Movement lost strength in mid-1970s as Carmichael & other leaders lost focus

BLACK PANTHERS

• Oct 15, 1966 founded by Huey P. Newton & Bobby Seale• Black Panther Party for Self-Defense• Influenced by teachings of Malcolm X

• More violent & revolutionary organization than SNCC• Goals were intended to be international though they

focused on black power• “the symbol of the panther…was chosen because

the panther never attacks unless cornered, and the African-American community of the 1960s felt cornered” (Brenner)

HTTP://WWW.TIMETOAST.COM/TIMELINES/BLACK-NATIONALISM-BLACK-POWER

BRIEF T IMELINE OF EVENTS

RAS THE EXHORTER/DESTROYER

• Embodies black power (& ideas of black nationalism)• Black Power Movement did not start until mid-1960s, but

Invisible Man published in 1952• Name change from exhorter to destroyer depicts the

evolution of radical thought towards racial progress • Carmichael became more radical as time passed

• “He is the wild man who calls himself a black nationalist.” (Ellison 364)• Evolution from black nationalism to black power

• Supported unity of blacks• “Brothers are the same color; how the hell you call these

white men brother?” (370)• “We sons of Mama Africa” (370)

RAS, CONTINUED

• Emphasized accomplishments, worth, and pride of blacks• “We build a glorious movement of black people.” (371)• “black possibilities” (374)• “Is it self-respect—black against black?” (372)• “You black and beautiful—don’t let ‘em tell you different!”

(373)• Resentment of whites for history of oppression• “They enslave us—you forget that? How can they mean a

black mahn any good?” (371)• “That there is sense. Black allies. Yellow and brown allies!”

(375)• “Blood calls for blood!” (376)

• Willingness to start riots (541)

MIRRORING JOURNEYS OF MALCOLM X AND THE NARRATOR

Malcolm X• New young activist for NOI

after prison• As he becomes more

popular & important, people become nervous of his power.• 1963 NOI power struggle

• Spoke out for beliefs but leaders pushed him away• Spoke against violence after

JFK assassination• Become an enemy to

organization• Assassination threat

Narrator• New spokesman for the

Brotherhood• “You aroused them so quickly to

action...We need a good speaker for this district” (289-292)

• “I was beginning to approach some of the aspects of the organization about which I knew nothing…at a time when all the secrets of power and authority still shrouded from me in mystery appeared on the way toward revelation.” (407)

• “You were not hired to think.” (469)

• “So now I have become an enemy.” (405)

BARRIERS TO BLACK NATIONALISM

• The Narrator- champion & failure • Initially, very dependent on whites for self-progression &

lacks pride in his race• Desire to assure Norton that he was “far from being like

[Trueblood and the veterans]…[and] believed in his…kindness in…helping us poor, ignorant people out of the mire and darkness.” (99)

• Would be considered “black man with a white head” for his cooperation with the Brotherhood & goals of proving himself to be capable of functioning in white society• These ideas of integration maintained some of black nationalist

tradition, but were a betrayal to black power.• However, narrator’s speeches contain elements of black

nationalism• “Let’s get together, uncommon people. With both our eyes we

may see what makes us so uncommon, we’ll see who make us so uncommon!” (344)

BARRIERS TO BLACK NATIONALISMCONTINUED

• Dr. Bledsoe• Hypocritical position as an educator who propagates white

supremacy- “We was our leader and our magic” (116)• His position of power is not due to his worth despite what

people believe. It’s due to his ability to conform to the desires of the white men who fund the school.

• Barrier to black education & progression in society• “The only way to please a white man is to tell him a lie! What

of kind of education are you getting around here?” (139)• “It is to the best interests of the great work which we are

dedicated to perform, that he continue undisturbed in these vain hopes while remaining as far as possible from our midst.” (191)

BARRIERS TO BLACK NATIONALISMCONTINUED

• Brother Jack• Initially appears to be socially radical & upholds the

tenets of black nationalism despite being white• In reality, very controlling and dominant of what is taught.

Takes away black expression of thought- “Our job is not to ask them what they think but to tell them!” (473)

• The narrator accuses him of acting like “their great white father” (473)• Similar to Founder, if the Founder is interpreted as white

• Represents the continued dominance of whites & necessary distrust of the race