Stokely Carmichael and the Civil Rights Movement

Essay from the year 2015 in the subject History - America, grade: 1,0, University of Mannheim, language: English, abstract: In the collective memory Stokely Carmichael is stigmatised as an angry black nationalist and representative of the movement after his first cry of Black Power during Meredith March a few days after the initiator James Meredith had been shot by a sniper in summer 1966. One of the latest example of his negative perceptions was the statement of Juan Williams about Michelle Obama as "Stokely Carmichael - only in a 'designer dress'" at the O'Riley Show on the 29th of January in 2009. The backlash was immense even within the conservative audience. While the majority condemned the accusation of the First Lady in particular and black woman in general being black nationalist and adherence to the politic of victimization, the position of Carmichael was not scrutinised. In her essay "The Long Civil Right Movement and the Political Uses of the Past" Professor Jacquelyn D. Hall challenges the narrative and defines the non-violent protest of Martin Luther King Jr. as well as the Black Power Movement as phases of the long Civil Right Movement. In this context the essay aims to achieve a sophisticated picture of Carmichael as a central figure of the transition between both phases. Beginning with the first chapter 'Life' the essay will include a brief summary of Carmichael's life as a whole. Based on this overview the main chapter 'Political activism' leads through his development within the Civil Right Movement, following different stages, defined by Donald J. McCormack. The chapter 'Critics' will focus on the reception of his activism and ideas at that time and beyond to complete the foundation for the final conclusion.