Summary
Black Power was originally a political slogan by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in mid-1960s, aiming at developing internal cohesion in the black community and advocating for the presence of black voices in American politics. Black Power has been applied to many African American related ideologies, for instance, Black Nationalism. However, organization leaders had different interpretations of black power and approaches to realize the political and social goals associated with the term. While Martin Luther King, Jr., was more focusing on black freedom and civil rights, the Black Power was highlighting the self-identity of African American as well as building up black political and culture influences in American society. The Black Power movement had its peak at late 1960s and early 1970s, spreading its political and social impacts nationwide. It also made the black arts and music popular in U.S. at the same time.
Reflection
I am more comfortable with the term, Black Power, than Black Nationalism. Black Power also seems more positive, as it did not imply the racial separation as the black nationalism did. I first learned about the black power movement through 1970s’ black music. I can have a sense of African American self-pride from the lyrics. They admired their color, which provided me a fresh new impression of African American. I was also the victim of racial stereotypes, maybe still today. I used to think that many black people