Malcolm X, Black Power and the Black Panthers

Malcolm X's birth place and early struggles

• Born in Omaha

• Father killed by white supremacists

• Jailed 1946-1952 for drug dealing, being a pimp + a burgalar

• Left school at 14 —> bright + wanted to be a lawyer but teacher told him he couldn’t since he was black

Malcolm X's initial political stance (rejections)

Rejected integration + non-violence of MLK Jr.

Malcolm X's initial political stance (promotions)

• Promoted Black Nationalism self-reliance, and self-defence

• "By any means necessary"

Key NOI beliefs Malcolm X adopted

• Joined while in prison

• White society was irredeemably racist

• Influenced by Elijah Muhammad.

Why did Malcolm X split from the NOI in 1964?

Due to corruption + disillusionment with Muhammad.

What changed after Malcolm X's Hajj (1964)?

• Moderated views on racial unity

• He saw some potential for racial unity

How did Malcolm X die?

Assassinated in 1965 by members of the NOI.

Malcolm X's main legacy/impact

Inspired the Black Power movement and shifted the debate towards racial pride + militancy.

When and by whom was the NOI established?

• Established in 1930

• Led by Elijah Muhammad.

What were the beliefs of the NOI?

• Allah originally created black people

• The evil scientist Yakub created other races

• Whites would rule for thousands of years until Allah returned and ended their supremacy.

What were the NOI's main goals?

• Separation of blacks + whites

• Black economic independence

• Development of an independent black notion

• Pride in black culture + history

• Religious commitment to a pure lifestyle (no alcohol or extramarital sex) 

What was the impact of the NOI on Malcolm X?

• Religious teachings impressed Malcolm

• White people as evil —> resonated with his beliefs

• Gave Malcolm a sense of racial pride and identity

• After his release from prison, he became a minister of the NOI

• In the 1950s, he was its most effective preacher.

The NOI's positive social impact (1975 Washington Post)

Raised impact on thousands of Black derelicts —> turned outlaws into useful, productive men + women

What did the NOI offer people in the ghettos?

An alternative to the "white man's Christianity" and a source of racial pride.

What was the public impact of the NOI?

• Increased divisions amongst people

• Contributed to the rise of the Black Power movement

When did the Black Power movement develop?

Developed in the mid-1960s.

What were the core principles of Black Power?

Pride in African heritage

Black Power's stance on non-violence

• Rejection of non-violence as the only strategy

• Willingness to use self-defence.

Black Power's famous slogan

"Black is beautiful."

Why did the Black Power movement develop?

• Ghetto problems (poverty, poor housing, poor schools, discrimination + police brutality)

• Influence of Malcolm X

What was the Black Power movement associated with?

• White people —> violence

• Black people —> political + social independence

Who popularised "Black Power" in 1966?

Stokely Carmichael (during the Meredith March).

What did Carmichael's book do and what was it called?

• Black Power (1967)

• Set out what he saw as the characteristics of the Black Power Movement

What did Carmichael do?

• Said non-violence was foolish when faced with the opposition

• Urged black Americans to ‘close ranks’ + reject interracial protest + take pride in their heritage

• Popularised slogan Black Power in 1968 March Against Fear

• Initially worked with the SNCC on non-violent campaigns

Founders and founding year of the Black Panthers

• Huey P. Newton + Bobby Seale

• Founded 1966 in Oakland

What did the Panthers claim to be the heirs of?

Said they were the "heirs of Malcolm X."

Key elements of the 10-Point Programme

• Freedom + full employment

• Decent housing, education + end to police brutality

• Exemption of Black men from military service in the Vietnam War

• Control of black communities by black people

Panthers' tactic to combat police brutality

Armed patrols to monitor police behaviour (using legal open carry).

Example of a Black Panther "Survival Programme"

• Providing free breakfast for children or running 40 clinics.

• Liberation schools to teach black children to have pride in their heritage

Main government response against the Panthers

• Targeted by the FBI and subjected to COINTELPRO

• Most famous was the case of the Chicago Eight, who were arrested for conspiring to incite a riot at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968 

• Bobby Seale was one of Chicago Eight charged in 1969 +  was jailed = him leaving the Black Panthers in 1974 after his release 

Main reason for the decline of the Black Power movement (1970s)

Poor organization

Time Period of Decline for the Black Panthers

Fizzled out by early 1970s.

Internal Reasons for Decline

• Always relatively ill-defined + poorly organised

• Unrealistic in thinking America was ready for revolution

• Sexist + alienated its female supporters

• Lost the white liberal funding that supported the SNCC + the CORE before their switch to radicalism (SNCC excluded white members in 1966 + the CORE in 1968)

• Attracted the hostility of white authorities → pursued + silenced Black Power Leaders

External/Political Reasons for Decline

• Always seen as unrealistic in America

• SNCC lost white liberal funding

• Persecuted + silenced Black Power Leaders