By analyzing Stokely Carmichael's "Black Power" and understanding the cultural aspects of the time period, readers can better comprehend Carmichael's determination to end the problem that is racism in America.  Carmichael was involved in the Civil Rights Movement from a young age.  He participated in many freedom rides and was arrested several times for his cause.  He originally followed Dr. Martin Luther King in his peaceful efforts to end racism, but eventually grew impatient.  In 1966, Carmichael gave his famous "Black Power" speech to the white college students of UC Berkeley.  In his speech, Carmichael uses allusion, hyperbole, and diction to convey the urgency of this movement.

In "Black Power", Carmichael alludes to the peaceful course of action promoted by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a failed effort.  Earlier in his life, Carmichael had "adhered to the philosophy of nonviolent resistance espoused by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr." (Biography).  However, when demonstrator James Meredith was shot in 1966, Carmichael "came to the realization that perhaps violence was sometimes necessary--at least in self-defense" (Churcher).  Ironically, just as his doubts regarding non-violence began to emerge, Carmichael was elected head of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).  He then began to speak of "Black Power" instead of nonviolence.  In his "Black Power" speech, Carmichael says that when he sees Dr. King speak, he thinks 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'" (Carmichael).  He says this to show his respect to Dr. King and for his efforts.  But, he goes on to say that when he sees President Lyndon B. Johnson on television, Carmichael says "'Martin, baby, you got a long way to go'" (Carmichael).  Carmichael's reference to both Dr. King and Lyndon B. Johnson in his "Black Power" speech evokes respect for Dr. King's efforts, but also conveys frustration and impatience at the persistently profound and unjust racism in America.  

Carmichael utilizes hyperbole in his "Black Power" speech to convey the urgency and importance of the movement he is promoting.  This is highlighted when he discusses the problem of police brutality in Oakland, California.  Carmichael says that the people need functioning institutions that help them succeed, not "Gestapo troops", because "this is not 1942 and if you play like Nazis, we playing back with you this time around" (Carmichael).  This harsh exaggerated comparison of the Oakland police to the German Nazis positions blacks as victims of unreasonable violence just like the Jews in the Holocaust.  Carmichael uses this device to motivate the white audience to action.  His addition of "we playing back with you this time around" is an unsubtle threat of retribution in kind if the unjust behavior continues.  Carmichael employs hyperbole again when he discusses the role of the US in Vietnam.  He pronounces the United States as a "nation of thieves" that "stole everything it has, beginning with black people" (Carmichael).  Clearly, the United States has not stolen everything it has ever obtained.  Nonetheless, this harsh comment is intended to underscore the reality that the black people were literally taken from Africa against their will.  Similarly, saying that the United States "stands on the brink of becoming a nation of murderers" (Carmichael) is an exaggeration meant to inspire outrage.  Carmichael's use of harsh hyperbole is meant to influence his audience of white college students to take action against the policies of it's government.

Carmichael uses strong diction as well to portray his urgency to end racism.  He chooses the word "rampant" to describe white supremacy in America.  This gives the impression that white supremacy is spreading quickly and uncontrollably.  Carmichael chooses this word to scare his audience, implying an irreversible element to white supremacy.  Carmichael also says in the end of his speech, regarding white people, "move on over, or we're going to move on over you" (Carmichael).  Carmichael uses this aggressive declaration of physical action to make his point clear: if white people do not make a change now, black people will have no choice but to force  change upon them.  He uses the word "move" to show that white people are simply in the way of the black people's success, and if they do not start allowing blacks to do as they please, severe action will take place.  

In his "Black Power" speech, Stokely Carmichael utilizes allusion, hyperbole and diction to convey his urgency and seriousness about the end of racism in America.  Understanding these literary devices and how he uses them in his speech, as well as knowing the cultural background of the time the speech was delivered, allows for a better understanding of Carmichael's main point.  He uses the literary devices to convince his white, college-age audience that what is happening in America, as well as what has happened in America's past, is not just and will not be accepted any longer by the black community.  He threatens that physical action will take place if a change does not come immediately.  The use of allusion, hyperbole, and diction in "Black Power" enhance the strength and impact of this now-famous speech, catapulting the term "Black Power" into a rallying cry for civil rights thereafter.  

