Stokely Carmichael speech "Black Power" was given in 1966 during the civil rights movement in American. Unlike many of the other speeches of the movement this one was not directed at a predominately black crowd but to an all-white collection of college students. Carmichael can, because of this, focus his message toward these students and knows what references they will understand and be knowledgeable about. Carmichael is able to draw on past events and can reference different things because of the make-up of his audience. As well as form a connection with the audience to give his words additional stronger meaning. In an analysis of the historical and cultural context of Carmichael's speech provides insight into much of the meaning of the speech. 

Firstly, Carmichael is able to draw on the events that happened previously in the civil rights movement. Looking at the historical context of this speech, it taking place in 1966, one can see that is came after many other well know speeches and towards the end of the era defined as the civil rights movement. For example this speech came after many of the integration laws were passed, which is something Carmichael addresses. So it would seem Carmichael's goal in this speech would be more to fight racism than to call of governmental change, because the latter was already underway. Carmichael sees, "that every civil rights bill in this country was passed for white people, not for black people," (Carmichael 249). When he make the reference to the bills he is drawing on the recent change and pointing out some of the inadequacies in what they do. He is also pointing out that this is not the failure of any group that is associated with the civil rights movement but a failure within the white communities. Carmichael puts so much emphasis on this point because this is what he is trying to change, the way white communities act towards blacks. Carmichael is both drawing on and has additional meaning to his text because of the speeches location on the timeline towards the end of the civil rights movement. 

Carmichael is also looks at more historical events and references because of the cultural background of the audience. The audience being an all-white group of college students allows Carmichael more freedom in making historical references. He has an understanding that the audience, due to their current location and cultural background, will be more knowledgeable about history than the average person. Also he can make references to things that have been said in the past such as when he says, "I am black, therefore I am," (Carmichael 252), he is making reference to Rene Descartes, "I think, therefore I am." In making this allusion to a quote that many of the college students would have been able to decipher, especially because he repeats it several times in succession, he creates many thoughts and questions. On a very basic level the reference says that black people exist and they cannot be ignored. On another level but alluding to a famous philosopher he is asking the students to analysis their own philosophy and think about the ways they look at the civil rights movement and the current state of the country. Also he was comparing himself to a great philosopher. Which is in many ways what he is a philosopher, he is looking at the things around him and thinking about them. He like Descartes is thinking about existence, but instead of human existence Carmichael is looking at the existence of blacks in America. Carmichael's use of references and allusions to others provide insight to his speeches meaning, but are so are only possible due to the audience he is speaking to.

Something else Carmichael does because of his audience is to add one line phrases to throughout his speech to call for conformation that the audience has an understanding of what he is saying. Carmichael says things like "Get hip to that," "ain't that a gas," and "Dig yourself," to call for a response from his audience. He wants to make sure is audience understands what he is saying and is supportive of his message. Also he wants others who see this speech, but are not present, to hear the applause and make his words look even more powerful. Carmichael want the power in his words to be evident. The students in the audience are already excepting of his message and embrace it along with many of the people who will see the speech. However the people who disagree and don't want change are the ones he wants to see this. They would not see the power in his words but would see the all-white audience applauding him after almost every paragraph. It was all about spreading the power that his message has. Carmichael is able to use language the audience is familiar with to both fit in as one of their peers, but also to strengthen the power his message has.    

Carmichael also addresses current events that are concerning to both the Black Power movement and the students, as well as many others in the country. Carmichael makes many references to Vietnam and to other issues such as the corruption of ideals by politicians. He is talking to issues that the students also care about and he would have known that, "The University of California at Berkeley epitomized student protests and free speech," (Churcher). Carmichael was expressing that the Black Power movement had many of the same common concerns as the students, and each had to do their part in advancing the issues in their own communities. Such that even though Carmichael's movement was only for blacks the students shared, "a common commitment to social justice and revolutionary change" (Churcher).  The largest issue that brings solidarity between the movement and many Americans is Vietnam. The concerns over both those being killed across the planet and the questions being asked of the wars motivations unite many people. In this way he was different from many of the other black power speakers, he did not uses divisive language in his speech. He is able to use strong language and still make his point about having to work in your own communities without being divisive or alienating the student support for the movement. Carmichael uses these current events to both ask questions of them and to garner more support from people who are concerned about this other issues to also support him.

Carmichael's message throughout his speech is shaped and molded by the references he makes to the past and the current state of affairs he discusses. He is able to use the environment he is in to individualize his message and make it appealing even by denouncing what has already been accomplished. Some of this is due to the clear message he provides, although he states the failure of white activist in the past and says the Black Power movement must do it on its own, he gives the student a clear thing they can do to help the movement. Carmichael tells the students to go into their communities and fight racism, while giving the students ways that their communities have similar concerns to as give further reason to help his cause.  This does not mean his speech was perfect in creating a common ground as many whites would have not liked the comparisons he made of America to Nazi Germany. Just as some blacks would have not liked he took time to give a speech to a bunch of all-white college students. However, the people who were behind his movement or supported the ideas of his movement would have seen the ways he lays thing out in his speech and the powerful language he uses to make his points. Carmichael's "Black Power" speech was able to express the feelings and thoughts of both himself and of the black community to a group of people who on the surface could not be more different. Yet he is able to provide a speech that was a combination of ideas and analogies to historical events expresses those ideas in which he believes.     

