The Black Power/Malcolm X

The Black Panther

'it never attacks but if anyone attacks him, or backs hims into a corner, the panther comes up to wipe the aggressor or attacker out.'.

'The heirs of Malcolm X'.

They were Black nationalist and favoured a separate black nation, either within the USA or in Africa

SCLC and SNCC focused on problems in the South

The Nation of Islam focused on problems int he North-ghettos

Elijah Muhammad was the leader of the Nation of Islam. The blacks, he believed, were created first and the white race were evil.

The Black Power attracted the support of the younger people in the North who were frustrated at the slow rate of change

Aims

Alternative to Christinaity

It increase black self-esteem

Complete seperation of the two races

Improve black economic situation

10 point platform

1) Full employment

2) Decent housing

3) Education that teachers us our true black history

4) Reparations for slavery

5) Self determination

6) End to police brutality

7) Ghetto improvement

When Elijah Muhammah died in 1975, the white press was surprisingly supportive

Malcolm X mocked Christianity 'designed to fill heart with the desire to be white.. a white Jesus, a white virgin, white angels. White everything. But a black devil of course'.

Split from the NoI

In 1963, Malcolm X was suspended for making unpopular remarks about the assassination of Kennedy. He decided to split from the NoI because he did not like the lifestyle of Elijah Muhammad. He lived expensively, rejected political involvement and protest as well as womanising.

He changed his radical ideas following pilgrimage to Mecca and established the OAAU (Organization of Afro-American Unity) to unite everyone of African descent and promote black social, political and economical independence.

Malcolm X's achievements

'I'm here to remind the white man of the alternative to Dr King'-1964

NO

Thurgood Marshall-NoI run by a bunch of thugs

Jackie Robinson-King and others put their lives on the line but Malcolm did not.

Time-An unashamed demogogue whose gospel was hatred and who in life and in death was a disaster to the Civil Rights Movement.

YES

Drew attention to the condition of the ghettos

Inspired people such as Stokely Carmichael, Floyd MsKissich and the Black Power movement

His seperatism view helped to inspire the Black Power movement.

POSITIVE

Raised morale

Growing black pride

Practical help (gave medical help, set up schools)

NEGATIVE

Poorly organised

Unrealistic thinking about revolution

Sexist

Targeted white authorities

Failed to solve ghetto problems

The Black Panthers were formed in 1966 by Huey P Newton and Bobby Seale. Their aims were to have full employment, decent housing, and education about black history.