Black Power

What is black power? A movement that encouraged African Americans to take control of their situation – politically and culturally, to have self determination Self Determination is your right to control your own destiny

Black Power v Martin Luther King Luther King was appealing to people’s morality and sense of justice The message of black power was for African Americans to seize power Some wanted black supremacy, some wanted improved conditions

Militant Action Militant = wanting to take aggressive action in support of a cause Malcolm X believed African Americans needed to be militant in order to defeat racism

The Nation of Islam Malcolm X was a member of the Nation of Islam party It preached that whites were devils who would be destroyed

Black Panthers Their goal was to achieve social, political and economic equality for African Americans Dressed in black trousers, black leather jackets, black berets and blue shirts They patrolled black communities and ghetto (areas where minority groups live) areas, protecting people from police abuse.

Violence Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965 Rioting broke out in the ghetto of a place called Watts after police aimed a gun at an African American person 6 days of rioting 34 deaths Hundreds injured 1966 – riots in Chicago, Cleveland, Dayton, Milwaukee and San Francisco Luther King assassinated in 1968

Review Questions Define: Black power Self determination Militant Black Panthers Ghetto