Although Stokely Carmichael was known as a young political activist who participated non-violent protests for the rights of African-Americans, many people believed that his phrase "Black Power" insinuated anger within people. This phrase mainly terrified many of the white citizens across America, because "they assumed that black power meant anti-white and really sort of violent" (Bates). Carmichael had a voice in almost every demonstration from 1960-1965. Because he was a leader and a very familiar face, Carmichael had influence over many. He called for Black Power in response to "the United States [having] no conscience" (Carmichael), as well as rethinking the practice of non-violence when black lives were endangered. 

Carmichael wanted to empower black Americans to believe in themselves and stand up for the rights that they should have as US citizens; he used many of Martin Luther King Jr.'s platforms and helped fight the race battle. King definitely had an impact on Carmichael's beliefs and actions because King had such a strong influence in the African-American culture. He disagreed with many people in the nonviolent movement, and he promoted self-defense among African Americans. Although Carmichael helped found the Black Panthers, he was not as violent as Malcolm X. Malcolm X joined the Black Panthers and became their leader after Martin Luther King, Jr. died. The Black Panthers openly called for the use of violence and did not have any intention of being civilly disobedient. They believed that in order to create change in the way African Americans were treated, force must be used. Carmichael being the founder of the Black Panthers may give many people the sense that he was a violent man, but he did not believe that violence was the answer to winning the race war; he thought it may be needed when black men and women were in need of protection but he coined the term black power for political self-determination. It meant that black sharecroppers were going to be political leaders in a new world order and obtain a voice in America. King regarded the younger Carmichael as one of the movement's most promising leaders. He believed in the concept of "redemptive suffering" and thought the sight of protesters accepting beatings, dog bites and fire-hosing would soften America's heart and inspire the country to reject segregation, but when Carmichael saw so many of his comrades maimed and killed, he no longer shared this belief with King. Carmichael is very well known for saying "in order for nonviolence to work, your opponent has to have a conscience. The United States has no conscience."

The Black Panthers is not the only race group that became violent, the Klu Klux Klan, an all white gang, was extremely violent and set out to destroy the rights of black people. The KKK and the Black Panthers would have many fights and lots of blood was shed because of the hatreds of each other's races. Both of these groups are extremists, and they have committed many brutal race crimes. The KKK was founded prior to the Black Panthers so many say that the Black Panthers formed to oppose the white members of the KKK. The KKK bombed many African American schools during the civil rights movement as well as churches. They terrorized African Americans across America. 

In his speech, he challenges white people to consider their actions and beliefs that they say they stand by and for. He challenges the definition of democracy saying that the white Americans "have never made [it] work (The Carolina Reader 250). He addresses mission work and questions why the white people spread to Africa to preach to the heathens, assuming that white people were automatically inferior. He insults the fact that missionaries travel to Africa still, and spread the word of God and do not bring money to the people that have absolutely nothing; he says "they don't want to face the real problem which is a man is poor for  one reason only: they do not have money period" (The Carolina Reader 250). His words challenge listeners to think about their ideologies and beliefs, and what each person stands by. The white Americans did not like the way he spoke about and towards them because they felt like it was the African Americans who caused the trouble in the country, and they feared them. What Carmichael attempts to point out is that it is not the white people that should fear the black people, but the black people that should fear, and typically do fear, the white citizens because of the oppression they have put on black citizens. White people viewed black people as animals and did not consider them human beings. 

In Carmichael's speech to end segregation he addresses the fact that both white and black men and women need to come together with the people of their own races and decide together to make a difference. If everyone in each race is not under the same beliefs, nothing will get accomplished. He asks that "there be a coalition for base for black people to hook up with" (The Carolina Reader 253), so that the black coalitions can come together with the white coalitions and the two groups can speak and organize civilly. Also, he talks about how there needs to be strong leaders within each community who will lead the people towards civil equality. 

It is also very interesting that Carmichael gives his speech to a crowd of white people. Most of the African American leaders pushing for equality for all races speak to crowds of minorities. Carmichael defies this, and he speaks to the race that is doing the oppressing; he agrees that both the black and white races have hatred towards one another, but the white people are the people who have the real ability to make a change because they are the ones with power. By Carmichael telling them this, it gives them a sense of supremacy because of their power; this is another tactic he uses in hopes that they will work towards ending oppression. He explains to the white crowd that he and all the black men and women of the United States are tired of telling white people that they are not going to hurt them. The color of ones skin can make them no more dangerous than another person of a different race; it is the way that person is raised. 

Carmichael also deeply opposed the Vietnam War. He and many others saw no reason to be fighting, and he refused to go fight over seas. He very adamantly opposed war, and the Vietnamese War in particular. The Vietnam War was brutal, and men came back with extreme cases of PTSD. Another reason Carmichael opposed this war was because black men were getting drafted to go fight next to white men, but they still did not have all the rights that white men had in the United States. If African Americans could be sent to fight overseas, then they deserve to be treated with equality in the continental US. 

Each person has the ability to be racist or not racists, to make a difference, better or worse. Carmichael chooses the path of making an impact to better the United States. He wants to bring all races together to live under one law, state, and school system. He wants black men and white men to be able to work alongside each other. Although Carmichael may not have changed the way many people think, he still challenged them to really think about their beliefs and why they do some of the actions that they do. He really helped enlighten both races on being respectful and equal towards each other. Carmichael is known across America as one of the great civil rights leaders.

