12- Black Power

Notes The Voting Rights Act of 1965 marked the end of an era in the history of the civil rights movement. 5 days after President Johnson signed landmark voting law, bloody riots erupted in Watts (a ghetto in LA). The Watts explosion heralded a new phase of the black struggle, new militant confrontation, led by radical and sometimes violent spokespersons often aimed at black separatism. Malcolm Little changed his name to Malcolm X to advertise his lost African American identity in white America. Malcolm X trumpeted black separatism and inveighed against the “blue-eyed white devils”.

Notes The Black Panther Party openly brandished weapons in the streets of Oakland, California. In 1966 Stokely Carmichael began to preach the doctrine of “Black Power”, which will “smash everything Western civilization has created.” Some African Americans insisted that the Black Power movement and slogans were created with the intention of integrating American society again. Other African Americans used Black Power to separate America even further, by promoting the afro hairstyle and by shedding their “white names” for new African identities.

Notes Just as the civil rights movement has achieved its greatest legal and political triumphs, more riots in cities broke out in black ghettos. The riots angered many white Americans who threatened to retaliate with their own “backlash” against ghetto arsonists and killers. Black Power in the North focused on economic demands Black unemployment was almost twice of that of the white population Despair deepened when the magnetic and moderate voice of MLK Jr. was forever silenced by a sniper’s bullet in Memphis, TN.

Source O- The Ohio State University Library P- To show how both black power activists and white supremacist cause damage and violence. V- The value of this cartoon is that it demonstrates how both powers are strong but one is not dominate in size or power than the other. C- This cartoon shows how black power and white supremacists both were violent and both co- existed and were fueled & fueled by each other. L- The limitations to this cartoon is that it does not show the actions that each group took.

Source O- This Political Cartoon came from Syracuse University Library V- The value of this cartoon is it shows how the common mindset of African Americans changed over a short time frame. P- The purpose of this cartoon is to demonstrate how African Americans she their “white identities” for a more “African Identity”. C- This cartoon shows a black family that says that they will overcome white oppression to the same family saying that they will overthrow the white government that has been oppressing them L- The limitations to this cartoon is that it does not show the black political leaders that caused this change in mindset.

Source- Voting Rights Act of 1965 O- The US Congress Library (an amendment to the constitution) V- The value of the Act is that is prohibits racial discrimination in voting rights. P- The purpose of this act is prohibit racial discrimination with voting rights. C- The Act outlawed voting discrimination practices most commonly used by southern states, and it was signed by Lyndon B. Johnson. L- A limitation to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is that is could cause tensions that could in violence in southern states.

Questions Describe why African Americans shedded their “white culture” for more “African” identities. Evaluate reasons why African American unemployment would be almost double white unemployment in the north.