Malcom X and Black Power

Black Power & African Americans

• Malcom X believed in black pride and social and economic rather than political change, representing poor families in the North. Was a member of NOI but then left and was assassinated by them in 1965.
• Black power:
• Ideas of Malcom X opposing over-reliance of white support for civil rights movement.
• Interest in previous separatist movements like Marcus Garvey
• Disappointment with effects of political change and wave of riots in 1965.
• Differences from Civil rights Movement:
• No unified aims, no cooperation with white progressives.
• Didn't aim for political goals.
• Did not have that much support in South.
• Did not focus on non-violence and saw need for AAs to defend themselves with weapons.
• Rejected co-operation with white Americans
• Saw AA civil rights in wider context of AA history and culture.
• Gains From Black Power Movement:
• Greater interest in AA culture, history, music etc.
• Courses run on AA culture in schools and universities.
• AA gained more mainstream cultural identity, afro and stop copying white styles.
• Greater publicity for AA social grievances, black power salute at Olympics.
• 1972 Black Political Conventional was held to urge reform.
• New Identity Politics impacted a range of other issues such as gay rights and second-wave feminism.
• Limitations:
• Divisions between whites and AAs increased repression and weakened the movement as it hindered ability to make changes.
• Association of civil rights with separatism, violence and radicalism alienated movement and lost support.
• 1967, Martin Luther King critical of movement's failure to see that progress depends on interracial co-operation.
• Power of US state too great and police repression used against radical leaders.

Black Power and Trade Unions and Labour

• Trade Unions did little to promote equal opportunities for unskilled AAs. AAs not well represented within AFL CIO. By time of Malcom X there was much that needed improvement.
• The Gains for Organised Labour and Unions:
• Encouraged trade unions to abandon remaining racist practices within organisations.
• Equal Opportunity Act 1964, may have been influenced by the movement and was beneficial as trained people to increase employment opportunities.
• Movement helped focus attention on poverty, a concern of AA workers. May have influenced Johnson's great society which aimed to reduce numbers who lived in poverty.
• May have also encouraged later presidential action such as Nixon's policy of affirmative action.
• Provided practical help for AAs who lived in ghettos.
• Limited impact of Black Power Movement in position of workers:
• Violence and militancy of movement lost support for AAs among whites as well as other AAs, limiting their influence.
• Many arguments of differences between whites and AAs, did not want integration, creating further divisions.
• Did not focus very much on economic position more of culture therefore didn't really improve economic position.
• Black power movement more concerned with poverty which concerned AAs more than advancing labour rights
• Black power divided civil rights movement and and trade union movement as it emphasised AA solidarity rather than worker unity.
• Lack of concern among black power movement to improve labour and union rights means they didn't play a crucial role in bringing about advance in organised labour.

Black Power and Native Americans

• The Influence of Black Power on Native Americans:
• Black power movement influenced NA red power movement and most militant NA group AIM.
• Black power sought to bring AAs together therefore might have influenced NAs to abandon tribal divisions. Increased unity was one reason why they were successful in this particular period.
• More aggressive tactics of black power encouraged more militancy of red power and AIM.
• Named Red Power literally after the black power movement, NAs also emphasised pride in NA culture.
• Native American protest movements had emerged before the black power movement.
• Red Power Owed Little to the Black Power Movement:
• Evident that after WWII, particularly responding to termination, NAs were united in their protests and resistance to government policies therefore didn't need influence of black power.
• NA pressure groups already achieving success, resulting from Indian Claims Commission.
• Militancy already present among National Indian Youth Council.
• A range of protest movements throughout America, changing attitudes of Presidents made change in attitude towards minority groups and this changing attitude encouraged groups to take up their causes as they believed they had a greater chance of success.

Black Power and Women

• Black power arguably gave more opportunities for women and contributed to confidence of AA women.
• Positive impact of Black Power on Women's rights:
• Encouraged women to be proud of their culture "black is beautiful".
• A lot of women active in Black Power organisations, 2/3 of black power movement due to repression and imprisonment of male activists. Shown as revolutionaries.
• Women important local leaders in community initiatives supporting AA women in healthcare, education, legal problems and housing.
• Black power inspired women to be political.
• Black power encourages questioning of other established social norms such as separate spheres, encouraged gender politics and second wave feminism.
• The Negative impact of Black Power on women's rights:
• Feminism was often seen by AA male activists as "a white women's thing".
• Separatist organisations looking to traditional cultures opposed birth control.
• Revolutionary violence was seen as essentially male.
• For women, local activism often fell into traditional female roles of caring for families and supporting other women.