In the speech, “Black Power” the author Stokely Carmichael touch base on nonviolent integrationist politics to a politics of black power. Promoting an organization that will pushes towards integration. Organize to fight for liberation and independent of whites. To address his audience to recognize what was happening and to step forward to fight for change. Stokely main target during his speeches was mostly white audience hoping if they would step in the integration would resolve quicker. Reading and analyzing the events Stokely discusses in his speech opens up a new interpretation of historical events such as civil rights, Vietnam war, and police brutality. 

Stokely believed that all the laws set in place for black people freedom was created to inform white citizen. He says, “we must dismiss the fallacious notion that white people can give anybody their freedom. No man can give anybody his freedom a man is born free. You may enslave a man after he is born.” Meaning when you are born into the world you are free, but may be a slave to someone with higher power. The Emancipation of Proclamation Act in 1863 informs white people that everyone is created equal and no one should be held under the title “slave”. Blacks are being deny their freedom from the white race. Blacks knew they were free when they were born but upset at the fact that whites believed once you born black you are a slave with no freedom.

 The Emancipation of Proclamation Act in 1863 was just one of the efforts that verbally and written that told blacks had rights. In the article, “It Has To Come From The Hearts Of The People” by Randall Stephens discussed the movement towards putting an end to discrimination. Back on June 19, 1964, President Johnson and the senate had passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. African Americans were very relief about the pass of the law cheering because of the milestone in American history even though black people knew they had these rights and didn’t need anyone to tell them different. 

For example, he says, “every civil rights bill in this country was passed for white people not for blacks.” The reason for him saying that is because the blacks knew they were a human being and all human beings are created equal. The Civil Rights Act expresses the outlaw of discrimination such as religion, race, color and national origin. Rage was quickly filled in the air as people didn’t quite agree with the passing of the civil rights act. People quickly begin to resent from law. Some resigned acceptance to the racist denunciation. African Americans and the church push in strived to get people to see the light in the world which was unity. Even though the law was put in place, it still couldn’t change the hatred in people hearts.  Looking back at the historical events of when or how these law came into place, sheds a new light on Carmichael prospective that he presents about black people already being born into freedom.

Carmichael present an interesting claim about black men that are fighting for a country they have no freedom in. The author expresses his feelings about the country they love and live in with so much discomfort towards blacks. For example, he says “anytime a black man leaves this country, gets shot in Vietnam on foreign ground, and returns home and you won’t give him a burial in his own homeland. He’s a black mercenary (320)”. Carmichael demonstrate the level of hatred towards those of color. For the simple fact that they are still treated poorly but have the courage to go overseas and fight for a country that shows no respect towards the African Americans. The African American who went to war was hoping that a win in the Vietnam war could also mean a victory in the homeland. Hoping they could build a human relationship with the whites. 

The article, “Chronicles Of A Two-Front War: Civil Rights And Vietnam” was a story that relates to civil rights and the Vietnam War. African American felt that if whites and African Americans can fight together as a nation in another country, why isn’t there unity in the homeland. African Americans sent to the press trying to see if they can help unite the two races. These article were from the black press trying to get a supporting effort to end the racial discrimination. More black press campaigned together to see if they could get a double victory. Meaning they have already won the Vietnam war as a unite and they wanted to see if they could do the same in the states by putting an end to racial discrimination. 

Michael mentioned that, “this country told us that if we worked hard we would succeed, and if that were true we own this country lock, stock, and barrel. It is we have picked the cotton for nothing. (320)” this article shows that what Carmichael was saying was the reality. Going off to fight for their country wasn’t enough for their freedom. The black press main goal was to expose the indecency of the government so that America sees the real treatment of its people. This put a lot of pressure on the government. Blacks are wondering what the problem is, because they have done everything that they asked them to do work hard to live successful but will not give us our constitutional right life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. The information that Carmichael present about black males fighting gives us the new interpretation of the reason why the black press used the Vietnam war as a platform form for equality.

Police brutality struck it presence hard during 1966. Carmichael says, “the first time a black a black jump, that white man going to shoot him. He’s going to shoot him. So police brutality is going to exist on that level because of the incapability of that white man to see black people come together and to live in the conditions “(325). This made many blacks fear police officer. Never knowing the day, they could be killed by someone who supposed to be protecting the citizens. The only time violence was presented was when the act was committed by blacks. For example, Carmichael said, “the only time I hear people talk about nonviolence is when black people move to defend themselves against white people” (325). Meaning when a black person reacts to defend himself, they view them as violent but don’t think about the fact they bomb Vietnam and police brutality is occurring heavily. 

In conclusion, Carmichael speech was valid based off the historical articles of Vietnam and Civil Rights. Police brutality is something that is still occurring today in 2016. The approach Carmichael uses to address his claims is very straight forward and honest. He leaves no room for anyone to take what he had said lightly. His speech also opening up a new interpretation of what it was like to be an African American during this time. The historical events of Vietnam, Civil Rights and police brutality shines a new light on his speech. 
