1970: Hello World!

Topics: Black Power Movement, Muhammad Ali, Angela Davis, James Brown, Sidney Poitier, and Flip Wilson. (Bonus Artists: hidingtobefound & Luck Pacheco) 1970 Snapshots MLK birthday celebrated in many states Toni Morrison's 1st novel, "The Bluest Eye" Black Enterprise and Essence start Jimi Hendricks dies Cheryl Adrienne Brown (Miss Iowa) 1st black to compete in Miss America Social/Political Key Development: Part 1: Black Power Movement The Black Power Movement focused on racial pride, self-sufficiency, and equality for all people of Black and African descent. It was led by a generation of black activists who had participated the Civil Rights movement. By the mid-1960s, a split developed among those activists and many no longer saw nonviolent protests as a viable way of combatting racism. Major turning point: The Watts riots, a 5 day "War" in 1965, that took place in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. Dead‎: ‎34 / Injured‎: ‎1,032 New organizations (the Black Panther Party, the Black Women's United Front, the Nation of Islam, and others) developed new cultural, political, and economic programs. Desegregation was insufficient. Deconstruction of the white power structures was the new focus. Because they wanted space for black political voices, collective black power, and social autonomy, the movement was often viewed as violent, anti-white, and anti-law enforcement. Key events: the 1965 assassination of Malcom X, and the 1968 assassination of MLK. Major accomplishment: raising the collective level of consciousness, pride, and interest in education. By the mid-1970s, the movement was in decline due to government repression, intragroup squabbles, and further assassinations. Also, police raids, arrests, and harassment. By 1973 African-American activists had begun to concentrate on getting blacks and progressive whites elected to public office. By 1976, the traditional movement was effectually dead. Legacy: Some have compared the modern movement Black Lives Matter to the Black Power movement noting a January 2015 community panel, hosted by the Garfield H.S. – B.S.U. (Seattle) titled: Black Power to Black Lives Matter, connecting the current youth-led struggle of BLACK LIVES MATTER to the Black Power movement of the 1960s-1970s. Part 2: Conclusion The Black Power movement not only represented a change in tactical strategy, but also a change in the mind-set of African-Americans. For instance, the black music industry, with its roots in gospel and rhythm and blues became more nationalist. Songs like the Impressions' "We're a Winner" (1967), James Brown's "Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud" (1968), and the Temptations' "Message to a Black Man" (1969) helped establish a distinctive sound for a generation of politically conscious young black Americans. Some blacks chose to don African garb and adopt African names. The slogans "Power to the People" and "Black is Beautiful" became very popular. The movement's style and fashion (military berets, leather gloves and hats, bright powder-blue shirts, and Afro hairstyles were also symbolically important. The impact of this imagery was immediate and resonated across the United States as well as throughout the world. Part 3: Important figures Nat Turner (d. 1841, American slave) Marcus Garvey (d. 1940, Black Nationalist political advocate) Frantz Fanon (d. 1961, Psychiatrist/Author – "This Wretched Earth: Algerian struggle against colonialism) W.E.B. Dubois (d. 1963, Historian) Malcolm X (d. 1965, Minister/Activist) MLK (d. 1968, Minister/Activist) 1968 Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos<