In the United States the 60's was a time for revolution, in technology, leading a man to walk on the moon; in war, while students rose against it, as was the case of Vietnam.  But, a remarkably important revolution was that of the civil rights movement, which defined what this nation stands for today, freedom and democracy.  Many leaders stood against an oppressive system that appeared to be against African Americans, in order to aid the black community who suffered due to inequality.  One of those leaders was Stokely Carmichael.  Through his speech "Black Power" and an understanding of the cultural aspects of the 60's, as well as, the injustice issues lived by the black community at the time, readers can capture the cause of the civil rights movement.  Also, they can better comprehend his reasoning to call for a more combative movement and conducting people away from the non-violent activism performed at the time.  Carmichael conveys his position in the speech concerning this new movement through the use of rhetoric, a provocative, aggressive diction and allusion. 

Carmichael demonstrates his skill in the use of rhetoric throughout his speech in order to convince his audience why a non-violent movement is less effective than the radical Black Power movement.  He delivered the speech in the University of California at Berkeley and although it seems bizarre to give a speech about rising against the white supremacy in an all-white college, the setting was an aid to the speech.  He presents his stand point by comparing both blacks and whites, emphasizing the struggles suffered by African Americans. He says "It is impossible for white and black people to talk about building a relationship based on humanity when the country is the way it is, when the institutions are clearly against us" (Carmichael 255). Here Carmichael begins to develop ethos as he calls for the attention of the "institutions" or the people behind them, on the issue a democracy that is only fair to the whites. There is no humanity in segregation or in giving someone a different treatment simply because of the color of their skin.  The reason they suffered was because the whites were against them.  Even though they appeared to be willing to coexist with the black community through integration, they still did not recognize or let them exercise their citizen and birth given rights, such as voting or choosing where to live.  The supremacy was an oppressor due to the power it had gained above the minorities.  Carmichael refers to this in "We must question the values of this society....The American pie means raping South Africa, beating Vietnam, beating South America, raping the Philippines" (Carmichael 256).  In a speech meant to talk about the issue of the young being drafted to the Vietnam War which was also in course at the time, Carmichael takes advantage of the moment to address many of the injustices of the country that are caused by the whites.  He wanted his audience to realize how serious the problem of the white supremacy had become, even outside of North America.  The white supremacy is a society of itself, which beats, rapes and exploits everything on its way for its convenience.  Carmichael condemns it for disparaging not only blacks, but any race not similar to them.  Thus, he appeals to the emotions of the his audience showing them that it is the option of every single student in the audience to be part of the pie or part of a movement that would change the lives of the oppressed.  Toward the end of the speech he says 

"and so we must urge you to fight now to be the leaders of today, not tomorrow. We've got to be the leaders of today.  This country is a nation of thieves.  It stands on the brink of becoming a nation of murderers.  We must stop it. We must stop it. We must stop it" (Carmichael 260).  

He continues to use pathos, pointing out the necessity for change in the country.  He knows that not all whites share the same views of the supremacy, but sees the potential each of them has to either help or be part of the problem.  He repeats "we must stop it" to create an emphasis and also perhaps in reference to the death of three activists during this time.  Once again he calls out for action, radical action to be exact, because to him it is the only way for that change to happen.

A noticeable aspect of Carmichael's speech is his provocative, aggressive diction which he uses to create an impact on his audience.  In her analysis Dr. Churcher says that it was "intentionally designed to provoke, even offend" (Churcher).  Carmichael appears to be confronting his audience throughout the majority of the speech.  He defines the problem that has led to the uprising of the "Black Power" as a "psychological struggle" (Carmichael 250).  The black community wanted to be able to define themselves and have their actions recognized.  Nevertheless, this would be impossible if the supremacy could not control the "mental state" that kept them from obliterating racism and realizing that African Americans were also humans (Churcher).  Indeed, the supremacy did not give value to the actions of the African Americans and as Carmichael tells his audience that it was "the incapability of whites to deal with their own problems inside their own communities" (Carmichael 249).  Carmichael finds the fault of the struggles of the entire black community in whites, because they have the incapability of allowing a black man to do as he wishes.  Their problems lie within the sense of superiority that makes them believe they can manipulate a man because of the color of his skin. A feeling shared in their own communities.  He then explains the reason for the name of the "Black Power" movement by saying that "it is the word 'Black' that bothers people in this country and that's their problem, not mine -- they're the problem" (Carmichael 251).  He believes that the movement effectiveness comes with the fact that the supremacy cannot accept the black community taking action.  The word Black symbolizes that which the supremacy despises.  Carmichael once again centralizes his argument around the blame the whites have for the uprising, and finalizes by directly denouncing them as the problem.  His criticism also goes towards the government, because as Dr. Churcher say "it was more concerned with putting police on the streets than with helping the disadvantaged" (Churcher).   Carmichael believes they could instead help those in need find housing and jobs.  He provocatively says "That's what they need, not Gestapo troops" (Carmichael 252).  By comparing the U.S. police to the Gestapo he reveals the immensity of the problem, considering that the Nazis were the authors of one of the worst genocides in history, simply because of hatred.  Likewise, many blacks suffered due to hatred and inequality, which was Carmichael's main justification for distancing from nonviolence.

There are several sections within the speech in which Carmichael alludes directly to people as well as events from the time to show his audience why he believed in the politics of the Black Power.  It can be said that many events led Carmichael to change into a radical activist, but a major event was the Freedom Summer project in Mississippi.  Specifically, he talks about three murders in the beginning of his speech.  These were the murders of three activists who participated in the project which was meant to increase voter registration from African Americans.  In the article "Murder in Mississippi" the reader is provided with a quote from Rita Schwerner the widow of one of the victims: "The slaying of a Negro in Mississippi is not news.  It is only because my husband and Andrew Goodman were white that the national alarm has been sounded" ("Murder in Mississippi").  There was complete impunity against those being charged with the crime.  Yet, the media centered on the story tremendously, something that had never happened with the murders of non-white victims.  Mrs. Schwerner raises the question as to whether it would have been the same if all of the victims were African American.  The murders and injustice worsened the division amid the people who thought nonviolence was the answer and those who doubted that a peaceful movement could change the situation of inequality.  Carmichael's point concerning action from the blacks is clear, he does not seek aid from the white population because he sees their meager will to contribute towards his cause.  He simply wanted the Black Power movement to be recognized.  He was not vexed by the concept of reaching integration, which was continuously stressed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a peaceful activist at the time.  Carmichael refers to King as he mocks him and his movement when he says "Martin, baby you got a long way to go" (Carmichael 259).  By addressing Dr. King by his first name he conveys closeness in the sense that both of them are fighting for the same reason.  Nevertheless, they are not fighting through the same means and to Carmichael being peaceful is not leading them anywhere and still have a lot to cover, therefore, it is time for them to take radical action against the supremacy.

Carmichael believed that peaceful demonstrations and a non-violence would not change the issues faced by the black community.  He pursued to direct the attention of the people to move towards a more radical movement, while communicating his reasoning and plan of action concerning this new movement, which he called "Black Power".  He did so through the use of rhetoric and a provocative, aggressive diction and allusion.  Moreover, he expresses his belief, that it was the supremacy who was at fault for the mishaps of the black community. The supremacy could not accept the fact that they were also humans and much less that they had a strong will to make a change.

