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Black Power Movement

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How far do you agree that the black power movement hindered black civil rights in the 1960s? (30)
- How did it damage the civil rights movement? 2 paragraphs
- How did it help the civil rights movement? 2 paragraphs

Help Hinder
- Working class were actually brought into the civil rights movement – bigger than king had been able to achieve.
- Profile through media attention of James Meredith.
- Protected the people, particularly in ghettos with 1) Patrol the pigs and 2) survival campaigns (health education) – which brought lots of confidence. - They were very violent – white people were stopping pitying them and turned their backs on the blacks.
- Division in the black community and criticising each other: Malcolm X and MKL, ‘Uncle Tom’ and very different goals for blacks.
- The black power movement had hints of communism and yet America was capitalist. This is key - They failed to work with the government something that was essential King had been successful in.
Intro
- The BPM, undoubtedly the most controversial wing of the civil rights, advocates of the slogan favoured aggressive, rhetorical and emphasised the pride in the hope of changing the economic problems the blacks had to face.
- BPM use of bold tactics back fired and caused more hindrance than helpfulness, forcing many white people and even some of their own to turn away.
- But what we can’t argue with was the effects were more of a help than a hindrance.
Paragraph 1
- The black power hindered the progress of the civil rights between the 1960s due to alienation of whites.
- BP violent which resulted in the whites stopping to pity and sympathise the blacks but instead turn against them this was seen at ‘Watts’, this was achieved through:
1) Prevention of white’s memberships to the newly radicalised group’s i.e SNCC and ORE meant that the alienation towards whites meant a major source of not only practicality of numbers but also financial from northern whites was gone. (gone against how well king had done with cooperation)
2) Due to 1) it meant funding had also dropped in other non radical organisations e.g NAACP. The whites felt that the funding cause for black equality as endorsing violence.
3) The white alienation had also led to many black arrests with the FBI and police who saw blacks as stealing guns and using them (reflecting badly on them and damaging the community). – resulting in most of the black panthers leaders either killed imprisoned or exiled.
- Link back to Q
Paragraph 2
- Furthermore the black power movement had hindered the civil rights campaign through the divisions in the black communities and conflicting opinions.
- Highlighted in the James Meredith march in 1966 where the chants opposed the ideologies.
- The ever increasing divided between non-violent groups, NAACP and SCLC, and the radical groups of the black panthers had meant the civil rights cause was no longer united. A non- united campaign could not possibly achieve as much as a united campaign.
- Added to this how could they expect funding and support from the whites when they opposed their own communities and couldn’t agree amongst themselves.
- The black power movement had hints of communism and yet America was capitalist. This is key - They failed to work with the government something that was essential King had been successful in.
- Through this alone the black power had severely hindered the civil rights campaign.

Paragraph 3
- But the black power did result in some helpful effects as a result of their actions.
- To begin with it was almost in possible to replicate the successes that king had achieved in the south as the BP had to tackle the hard hitting problems of social and economic problems faced by blacks in the north instead of theoretical rights in the south.
- Economic problems were now paramount in accessing reform for black Americans. This was probably the main reason to why the black power movement couldn’t aid the civil rights movement as much as king, although they did help it in more economic ways than credited.
1) Nation of Islam and Black panthers established small businesses and employment in small local shops – vital for homeless ghetto’s to start earning a living when jobs were hard to come by.
2) They had huge effects on the young people (youth) through campaigns such as Survival campaigns and patrol the pigs, Clearly ensuring the safety of the youth to prevent crime and enable health clinics and education to those who need it – long term factors rather than short explains why many did not appreciate it and therefore argue against their involvement.
Paragraph 4
- They were also at the front of ensuring black confidence and being proud of African American heritage which was aided by media attention and thereby helping the civil rights campaign.
- Features include the classic ‘afro hair style’.
- The groups of NOI and BP were based upon self determination this was due to the results of patrol the pigs which highlighted the unfair treatment and white authorities unwillingness to corporate.
- Lastly with the influence of the media the BP had ensured a controversial take to the civil rights forcing media attention and therefore highlighting just how bad the ghettos are and the living conditions and economic status meaning that these problems would be at the for front of political agenda.
Conclusion
- Overall I would conclude that the BP definitely hindered the civil rights campaign than helped it. The overwhelming evidence of divisions and alienation towards whites had already ensured that the civil rights could not progress and much as it had in the south, which is also debateable, and the lack of key government cooperation had depleted fast changes in society. But it is worth pointing out the Black power movement had achieved something which had taken years to build up, confidence.

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