History shows many instances where people need to take a stance in order to change the laws, society, or rights. In the excerpt from Black Power by Stokley Carmicheal, he talks about how African Americans must take a stance against the whites and show them why they deserve full rights. He addresses the white people and explains to them why African Americans are so angry at them and that they deserve rights such as voting, equal pay, and segregation because of the way they have been treated in the past. Standing up for what you believe in is very important when it comes to change in society’s beliefs and government and state laws and this is shown in the past with women’s rights, including gender equality and the increase of female pacifism, as well as African American rights. 

“Black Power” establishes the fact that America claims to be the country full of freedom yet African Americans, women, and other minorities are treated unequally and awfully compared to the white, rich, and male citizens. Stokely Carmicheal addresses the white people and says to them that in order to end this hypocrisy in America, they must all take a stand against the people that are preventing America and the minority citizens, mostly African Americans, from becoming fully free. Everyone deserves equal rights and Carmicheal is willing to do anything in order to gain these rights. He believed that if everyone comes together and fights for what they believe in, then they will be able to make a change. 

In the magazine, Empowering Women for Gender Equity, there is an article called “You Have To Act On What You Believe In” where the author, Nitasha Moothoo-Padayachie, interviewed a human rights activist named Magesvari Govender. He was asked how he would describe himself and he says “I am someone who believes strongly in the principles enshrined in the Freedom Charter and who believes that one cannot sit back in an arm chair or ivory tower. You have to act on what you believe in,” (pg. 182). Similar to Stokely Carmichael, Magesvari Govendor believes that you can not make a change or an impact unless you start standing up for what you believe in. You have to take action in order to look out for yourself and change the wrong around you. 

Along with African American rights being violated, women’s rights have been violated as well. Women have always been considered part of the “minority” that does not have full freedom. They used to not be able to vote, own land, and were considered unequal to men. John Craig, in the book, Peace as a Women’s Issue, states “…the focus on separate activism does make for a selective examination of female pacifism. Reform efforts that predated 1915 are treated as mere precursors for the rise of an independent feminist peace movement,”(page 183). Craig proves that slight efforts made my people wanting to make a change can start a whole movement that will change laws and society’s views on others. Craig and Carmicheal are similar because they believe that the smallest movement is what will make the biggest change and they both wanted to fight for what they believe in because it is what they believe is right. 

Carmicheal, Govendor, and Craig are just a few human rights activists who want to make a change. All of them have one thing in common and that is that we must stand up for what we believe in and know that a small change can make a huge difference. Black Power is just one of the many pieces of work that shows the inequality of countries and how we can change it. The only way to improve the freedom of others is to take a stance. 
