Black Power Movements in the 1960s
The Black Power movements in the U.S. in the 1960s were movements with two basic sides. One side was an anti-violence movement in which people would use the term "black power" yet continue to practice peaceful demonstrations. The other side was a more violent side in which blacks who were tired of oppression were beginning to use "black power" as a rallying cry for revolution.
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Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
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The SNCC was organized in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1960. A group of college students who had previously participated in sit-ins began the group and, following the teaching of Martin Luther King Jr., vowed to conduct nonviolent protests and conferences. Many members of this group were involved in the 1961 Freedom Rides, and the chant, "black power" was sometimes heard, though the group never became violent. The group disbanded soon after the death of King in 1968.
Congress of Radical Equality
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CORE began as a peaceful civil rights organization in 1946. King met with the leaders of the group in the '60s and worked closely with the group in the early '60s. CORE organized the Freedom Rides and began peaceful protests to gain black voter rights. When three CORE members were killed in Mississippi in 1964, many members became disenchanted with nonviolence and began to use black power as a foundation for activities. A more radical leader took over in 1966, and after the death of King, the group used the more violent aspects of black power, such as prejudice and violence, in their demonstrations.
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Malcolm X
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Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little, formed his own movement during the '60s. While he was fighting for black equality, his fight was peaceful as well as political. Malcolm was invited to many public debates, radio and TV shows and conferences to speak on the rights of the black person. Malcom X represented the most nonviolent, peaceful side of black power outside of King.
The Black Panthers
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The Black Panthers were a group formed by young black men and women who believed in the power of violence to effect social change. The fuel for these individuals was the sight of police and other law enforcement personnel abusing peaceful black protesters. This group believed in repaying violence with violence. They were watched closely by the FBI, and were referred to by J. Edgar Hoover as "the most dangerous group within the United States."
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References
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