The Civil Rights movement had a huge historical and cultural impact on the history of the United States. Stokely Carmichael throughout influenced the peaceful and violent protests that took place during this time period. Beginning as the Chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, he began to change his views on the movement. A year after taking this position, Carmichael began to encourage stronger and more violent protests leading to him becoming the Honorary Prime Minister of the Black Panther Party. (Carmichael, Stokely) In Black Power, Carmichael talks about how racism throughout the government and America has led to this revolution of blacks. Furthermore, by looking at the contrast and element of racism in pieces of literature from the time period of the Civil Rights movement we see that the Black Power is a result of African Americans wanting a better future, white people to treat them fair in society, and for people to step up in the African American community and fight for what they believe. 

The main topic discussed throughout the Civil Rights movement was whether protests should be peaceful or violent. In Black Power, Stokely Carmichael has just begun to believe that violent protests are necessary in order for the progress to be made for African Americans in the United States. (Carmichael, Stokely) In Donald J. McCormack’s article Stokely Carmichael and Pan-Africanism: Back to Black Power, McCormack describes Carmichael’s message for black American’ as “define yourselves in action”. (McCormack, Donald J)  This message is repeated over and over in the speech given at UC Berkley and shows that Carmichael is fed up with being treated unfairly.  (Carmichael, Stokely) In his opinion the Black Power movement was the only way for African Americans to have their voice heard. One main topic in Black Power was basic human rights in for blacks in the United States. During the sixties and early seventies in American history, African Americans were not treated as equals to whites. The Black Power speech is ultimately asking white Americans they can accept black people as equals in society. (Carmichael, Stokely) As asked by Carmichael, “How can white people move to start making the major institutions that they have in this country function the way it is supposed to function?” (Carmichael, Stokely) This quote just shows how the culture at that period in history was, even after integration, still not accustomed to African Americans having basic rights. Racism was imbedded into the majority of white American’s minds so when blacks began standing up for what was right, they saw this as a direct threat to the society in which they were raised. McCormack better explains Stokely Carmichael’s passion for the black power movement by discussing his support of people of African descent coming together for a common goal, which was equal rights. (McCormack, Donald J) Carmichael blatantly states in this quote that if whites cannot get rid of the racism, that they will tell them to, “Move over, or we’re going to move on over you.” (Carmichael, Stokely) In this time period that was a direct threat to the white society so Carmichael became a threat in white American’s eyes.  This ends the speech and just reiterates the need for a better future for African American. 

An argument within the text of Black Power is whether African Americans should protest using peaceful or violent protest. Black Power represents the change of Stokely Carmichael’s opinion switching to supporting peaceful protests to supporting the black power movement. (Carmichael, Stokely) During the Civil Rights movement there were two major leaders that represented peace and violence. Malcolm X was part of the Black Panther party and led the violent revolution. Martin Luther King Jr. was his counterpart in that he led the peaceful protests. (Cone, James H.) Even though they both had the same goals, King Jr. and Malcolm X couldn’t have been more different. To fully understand what Stokely Carmichael is talking about in his speech at UC Berkley, the reader must have previous knowledge of who represented which movement. In James H. Cone’s book Martin & Malcolm & America: A Dream or a Nightmare, Cone explains the differences between the two most influential Civil Rights leaders of that time period. This text goes into great detail at what led to each one of these men to act in the manner and believe in the ideas they fought so hard for during the Civil Rights movement. (Cone, James H.)  During Carmichael’s Black Power speech, he discusses how everyday Martin Luther King Jr. would come onto television and he’d say to himself, “Now there is a man who’s desperately needed in this country. There is a man full of love. There is a man full of mercy. There is a man full of compassion.” This shows Carmichaels support, however says King has a long way to go if he is going to be compared to Lyndon B. Johnson. (Carmichael, Stokely) The significance of this comparison is that is shows how Civil Rights leaders were viewed as President-like figures in society. King Jr was seen as “the prophet of optimism” and Malcolm X was viewed as “the prophet of pessimism”. (Cone, James H.)  Carmichael used strategies of both of these men to try and rid racism throughout America. Cone’s, Martin & Malcolm & America: A Dream or a Nightmare, helps shape the reading of the Black Power for the reader because it provides information about leaders in which Stokley Carmichael based his strategies around. The Black Power movement in which Carmichael is talking about throughout his speech was based on ideas from Malcolm X preached. Martin Luther King Jr. influenced Carmichael’s original views on nonviolent protests, however due to lack of results eventually began to encourage action to be taken against white racism in America. (Cone, James H.) 

Stokley Carmichael’s speech, Black Power, influences African Americans to take action for what they believe. James Cone’s Book Martin & Malcolm & America: A Dream or a Nightmare gives the reader a better understanding of the origins of Carmichael’s ideas on protests in the United States. This furthers the readers understanding of why the African Americans stood up for their basic rights and tried to get white people to treat them fairly in society. Donald J. McCormack’s article Stokely Carmichael and Pan-Africanism: Back to Black Power helps the reader understand how Carmichael transitioned from supporting peaceful protests to believing violence is the only way to get results. 
