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 whites and that they deserve the same civil rights as the white race such as suffrage, equal pay, and desegregation because they are people in the United States as well who deserve the equivalent rights that are stated in the constitution. 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. This paper will examine the difference between races and their rights, how people can prevent this problem in the United States, and the main solution to this issue. 

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 others 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 the minority citizens including mostly African Americans from becoming fully free. Everyone deserves equal rights and Carmicheal is willing to do anything in order for them to gain these rights. He also expressed that the minorities should do anything possible in order to gain their equality, even if it means they have to be violent. 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 one of the authors, Nitasha, interviews a human rights activist named Magesvari Govender, in 2007. The interview was meant for Magesvari to express why he wanted to make a change and what he suggests others should do in order to gain their rights. 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) which shows that he believes that others should stand up for themselves. Similar to Stokely Carmichael, Magesvari Govendor believes that people can not make a change or an impact unless you start standing up for what you believe in. According to Nitasha and Govender (2007), people 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 of all races 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. In 1920, they were established the right to vote through the passing of the 19th amendment and around 1839 they were allowed to own property. 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) which means that all of the events regarding women’s rights were just the beginning of the feminist movement. Craig proves that slight efforts made my people wanting to make a change, that seriously effects them, can start a whole movement that will change laws and society’s views on others. Craig and Carmicheal are similar in that they both believe that the smallest movement of each individual is the driving force behind the biggest change. 

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