The Black Power Movement

• Non-violent direct-action

  By 1965, the non-violent direct-action protest had achieved a great deal. But many African Americans remained angry and frustrated.

  They still faced poverty, low wages, poor education and inadequate housing.

  Many angry African – Americans took to looting and arson.
• Riots

  Between 1965 and 1968, there were riots in most of America’s major cities. Investigations showed that the key cause of these riots was frustration over living conditions and a feeling that the police didn’t protect their rights.
• Victory Ceremony Men’s 200m Run

  At the victory ceremony for the men’s 200-metre run,

  Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos (gold and bronze medallists, respectively) stood barefoot, each with head bowed and a single black-gloved fist raised during the national anthem. The athletes described the gesture as a tribute to

  their African American heritage and a protest of the living conditions of minorities in

  the United States.
• As a result, new movements developed

  Some civil rights campaigners rejected the approach of MLK. They felt change was not happening quickly enough. A number of organisations promoting ‘Black Power’ grew in the 1960s.
• The Nation of Islam (also known as the Black Muslims)


  The Nation of Islam was founded in the 1930s, it argued for separatism (keeping races apart). It said that white society was racist and corrupt and rejected Christianity as a white man’s religion. The best known member was Malcom X.
• The Black Panther Party

  Formed in California in 1966, the Black Panthers had around 5000 members by 1968. This extreme militant group totally rejected King’s non-violent approach. It argued that African-American’s had to protect themselves from white racists, using violence if necessary.
• Malcom X


  believed that violence was necessary to bring about change. He became less extreme towards the end of his life and he left the Nation of Islam.
• Black Power Declined

  Black Power declined very quickly in the late 1960s because its organisation was very poor and it had little money to support itself. It also declined because the government preferred King’s the peaceful methods to the violence and hatred of Black Power. However, it can be said that Black Power did manage to achieve something for black people as a whole. Blac Power leaders did try to help the people in the inner-city ghettos, and they did increase black pride and a sense of black nationalism.
• 1968 Civil Rights Act (Known as the Fair Housing Act)


  It became law, banning the discrimination in housing and making it a federal crime to ‘by force or by threat of force, inure, intimidate, or interfere with anyone.... By reason of their race, colour, religion or national origin.’