Carmichael, Stokely (1941–1998)

Black Power

The March Against Fear became important for Carmichael as well as for the civil rights movement itself. Having been arrested for the 27th time, Carmichael made his famous “Black Power” speech upon his release. It was also this year that Carmichael became chairman of SNCC, marking a decisive change in the organization's founding philosophy by bringing Black Power to prominence. The goal of Black Power was to empower a strong racial identity for African Americans.

In his speech, Carmichael called for black people to unite, to recognize their heritage, and to build a sense of community. He also advocated that African Americans should form and lead their own organizations. Black Power also encouraged a separation from white society, arguing that black people should write their own histories and form their own institutions. This empowered African Americans by promoting feelings of self-worth and by showing that they were strong enough to thrive without the support of white institutions.

The ideas contained in the speech were institutionalized with the publication of a book of the same title he coauthored with Charles Hamilton (Black Power). At this point it is possible to discern a split in the civil rights movement. In particular, leaders of civil rights groups such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) rejected Carmichael's ideas and accused him of black racism. This controversy was compounded by Carmichael's criticism of King and his ideology of non-violence. The split was made permanent when Carmichael joined the Black Panther Party, where he became an honorary prime minister.

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