Black Power by SNCC
Introduction
The Student Non- Violent Coordinating Committee known as the SNCC was a group concerning civil rights, which was designed to ensure that the civil rights movement should be put into much consideration among the younger blacks. The director of SCLC Ella Barker assisted in planning the first meeting, which developed to SNCC. According to her, the SCLC, whose leader was Martin Luther, was not doing so well in supporting the younger blacks’ movement; hence this was a concern to her. Stokely Carmichael was selected as head of SNCC in 1966, whereby he popularized the word “Black Power.” The slogan argued that the problems of African Americans could not be adequately solved through integration.
Question one
Organizing the blacks into an independent party is one of the significant concerns in black power. A group of citizens of any kind can nominate candidates from their county office. A 20 percent win allows the group to have a region political party, as suggested by an unusual Alabama law, “page 442”. The law applied on the state level as well, and the SNCC tried to organize for nominations on numerous countries like Lowndes, where 80 percent of the people there were blacks earning $943 averagely (Greene, 2019). Racism was, however, a significant hindrance to this election as many Negroes were prevented from participating in the election through raising the qualification fee from $50 to $ 500.
Freedom organizations from the five new countries came together and nominated candidates for the office of tax assessor, members of the school board, and sheriffs for elections. The men and women will only be lucky candidates only if they will be alive at the time of elections. The symbol on the ballot was the Black Panther, a beautiful and bold animal representing the dignity and strength of today’s black demand. The SNCC suggested that every man needs a black panther by their side for protection and a gun in case of an attack in the 1960s.
Question two
Generally, the thesis of the reading the “black power” by SNCC is the need for equal political power. To boost the process of blacks attaining their political equality, SCNCC tried different tactics. Thirty Negroes were helped by the SNCC to contest for school board leaders, but all were defeated because of intimidations and fraud from the whites’ leaders. Politically, the meaning of black power is not just putting the faces of blacks into offices but instead electing representatives who will speak out the needs of the blacks.
The Black Power movement didn’t solve the political problems of African Americans in the 1960s and 1970s. However, the campaign contributed to the expansion of black politics directly as well as indirectly. The advocates in the black power movement approached black politics with variety, creativity, vitality, creativity, and wit, which shaped how forthcoming generations dealt with the societal problems of the Americans (Cruz, 2015). The author demonstrated the thesis to satisfaction since a definite conclusion was made concerning the unsuccessful achievement of the political power by the SNCC.
Question three
While the SNCC tried its best in fighting for the rights of the African Americans, as demonstrated in the book, several ideas were drawn from the reading. First, it is the fact that the slogan in the black power did not just mean putting blacks in offices but making them represent the needs of their fellow blacks (Greene, 2019). Carmichael explained clearly what the slogan stands for: talking about black power will be the same as bringing the country to its knees every time the rights of a black man are messed up. Both the blacks and whites’ rights are known to all; hence they should be respected equally.
Secondly, the need for black consciousness and ethnic identity is as well an insight drawn from the reading. A tension was experienced between individuals willing to maximize and those wishing to minimize racial differences. Martin Luther was in the first line to do away with racism and build equality, which was highly opposed by those who advocated for colonization and separatism. Additionally, the need for psychological equality is yet another aspect drawn from the reading. The SNCC campaigned that blacks should have the freedom to do things by themselves. Property and money that belongs to the blacks should be owned and controlled by the blacks. I agree with Carmichael on the aspect of the black power slogan and Martin Luther since both fought for the well-being of African Americans.
Question four
Having read the book, several questions arise concerning how the authors explained the thesis and issues that they did not bring out. What is the thought behind this theme, the black power? Secondly, what impacts did the black power movement bring to African Americans? Also, what was the primary cause of the black power movement? The authors of the book would probably give the answers to the questions in a more careful way.
Concerning the first question on what the thought behind the theme was, the term black power is a revolutionary ideology that emphasized self-reliance for the blacks, racial pride, and self-defense. The impact of the movement gave more pride and self-esteem to the blacks. The SNCC also got a chance to gain more power as years went by, bringing more support to the blacks in their movement towards political power. Lastly, the primary cause of the black power movement was the assassination of Malcolm X, together with the 1964 and 1965 urban uprisings, which made the supporters of the movement be more prominence.
Question five
Reading the books gives a clear understanding of the authors’ message on Black Power. Unlike how the whites used to perceive the blacks as being inferior, the black power comes up with the idea that blacks have civil rights just like the whites. Political power should be given to the black people and they should be allowed to vote for their leaders who will represent their interests in front of the whites’ leadership (Cruz, 2015). Also, giving the blacks an equal opportunity when it comes to owning property and money is yet another essential factor brought out in the book. Blacks were given rights to have and plan for their own money, go to schools that they best love, and buy and own property.
Question six
In conclusion, having equal rights is a significant factor in each individual’s life, even in today’s society. In offices, both blacks and whites have equal chances of becoming who they want, which makes the working environment more conducive and productive. Students today can pursue their education in any school of their choice regardless of their race or origin.
References
Greene, C. (2019). Black women and black power: A review essay on new directions in black power studies. The Journal of Southern History, 85(3), 653-660. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/2344182809?accountid=151051
Cruz, G. R. (2015). Poder indio y poder negro: Recepciones del pensamiento negro en fausto Reinaga/Indian power and black power: Reception of the black thought in fausto Reinaga/Poder indiano e poder negro: Recepções do pensamento negro em fausto reinaga. Iconos, 19(1), 29-46. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/1650583986?accountid=151051