Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
African Americans & Malcolm X/Black Power - Coggle Diagram
African Americans & Malcolm X/Black Power
Malcolm was highly critical of King’s nonviolent approach, arguing his strategy was too slow-moving and too accommodating to white Americans - and refering to him as 'a 20-century Uncle Tom'
King attacked Malcolm’s dangerous radicalism, stating that 'Fiery, demagogic oratory in the Black ghettos' and encouraging people 'to arm themselves' and 'engage in violence' would 'reap nothing but grief'
In July 1963 Malcolm invited King to join a rally in Harlem and called for a period of racial unity to fight white oppression, looking to 'seek a common solution to a common problem posed by a common enemy'
King and other more moderate civil rights leaders refused to engage with Malcolm - in response he intensified his attacks on King, particularly over the March on Washington and the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Sep 1963
In Mar 1964 Malcolm broke with the NOI, disillusioned with Muhammad’s private life and angered over the group’s refusal to take a more active role in the fight for civil rights
MLK and Malcolm X met only once, at the US Capitol in Mar 1964 - the two shook hands and exchanged greetings as Malcolm expressed his desire to become more active
In Apr 1964 Malcolm began an extensive visit to North Africa and the Middle East, which fundamentally shifted his thinking on the issue of race - while not entirely denouncing his earlier positions, he adopted a more conciliatory approach
In Jun 1964 Malcolm founded the Organization of Afro-American Unity, a group that called for Black self-determination and economic independence and to connect African Americans with their African heritage
In Feb 1965 Malcolm travelled south to support the Selma campaign - although he continued to criticise King, he also met privately with Coretta Scott King, stating his desire to work more closely with the nonviolent movement.
Malcolm argued that that his attacks on King served a purpose, drawing the attention of white Americans towards his more radical beliefs and approach thereby making King and his moderate positions a more acceptable alternative
After Malcolm's assassination in Feb 1965 King wrote to Betty Shabazz, Malcom’s widow, saying 'While we did not always see eye to eye on methods to solve the race problem, I always had a deep affection for Malcolm and felt that he had a great ability to put his finger on the existence and root of the problem.”
In subsequent years, King himself embraced a more radical position, becoming a vocal opponent of the Vietnam War and the disproportionate effect on AAs and turning his attention to the systemic issue of poverty, branching out his focus from the segregated south to the entire country
King’s more fiery approach unsettled some of his more moderate supporters and gained him new enemies among civil rights opponents, but like Malcolm before him, it marked an evolution in King’s thinking
the Black Power movement argued that AAs should focus on creating economic, social and political power of their own, rather than seek integration into white-dominated society - this created divisions within the civil rights movement
Black Power advocates, particularly more militant groups like the Black Panther Party, did not discount the use of violence, but embraced Malcolm X’s challenge to pursue freedom, equality and justice 'by any means necessary'
Many in mainstream white society viewed the Black Panthers and other Black Power groups negatively, dismissing them as violent, anti-white and anti-law enforcement.
the Black Panthers became targets of the FBI’s counterintelligence program, or COINTELPRO, which weakened the group considerably by the mid-1970s through such tactics as spying, wiretapping, flimsy criminal charges and even assassination
Black Panther chapters operated in a number of cities nationwide - they advocated a 10-point program of socialist revolution backed by armed self-defense
The Panther's more practical efforts focused on building up the Black community through social programs, including free breakfasts for school children
With its emphasis on Black racial identity, pride and self-determination, Black Power influenced everything from popular culture to education to politics
King acknowledged the frustration among many AAs with the slow pace of change but didn’t see violence and separatism as a viable path forward - however with the mainstream CRM losing momentum, the message of Black Power was increasingly powerful
Carmichael was the first to use 'Black Power' as a political slogan in such a public way - at a rally in Greenwood, Mississippi in Jun 1966 - leading the crowd in a chant of 'We want Black Power'
Black Power had a limited impact in terms of gaining political concessions
Black Power was significant in spreading wider consciousness of black culture and heritage - eg courses were run in universities and schools
Unlike the mainstream CRM, which focussed on social and political inequalities in the south, Black Power gave many northern AA communities a voice, particularly young black men who experienced poverty and lack of opportunity
Black Power increased divisions between white and AAs and led to fear and repression, which weakened the impact of the movement
The association with separatism and violence alienated moderate opinion and reduced support for the further extension of rights - as seen in the race riots following his death
There was greater interest in AA history, culture, music, dress and appearance - 'black is beautiful' became linked to eg afro hairstyles etc
There was greater publicity for social grievances and a new confidence in AA identity - eg at the 1968 Mexico Olympics AA athletes gace the Black Power salute
In 1972 a national Black Political Convention was held to promote reform
At a local level there were communinties and groups who promoted rights and activities and provided support
The movement derived from a mixture of anti-colonialism theories, the success of African nationalists and previous separatist movements like that of Marcus Garvey
By the mid-70s the movement ceased to exist - its aims were too diverse and there was a lack of central authority led to fragmentation
Malcolm X raised awareness of the conditions of many in the northern ghettos and showed their conditions were little better than the south, this would lead to practical help being given to ghetto dwellers by the Black Panthers
Malcolm inspired the next generation of leaders, inlcuding Huey Newton and Stokely Carmichael