Stokely Carmichael Biography Abstract
Faculty Sponsor
Marc A. Robinson
mrobinson@whitworth.edu
Session Type
Traditional Paper Presentation
Research Project Abstract
Long before he preached about “Black Power”, moved to Africa, and changed his name to Kwame Toure, Stokely Carmichael was a leader. Throughout his life, whether he was serving as the student council vice president as an eight grader, or leading discussions on Howard University’s campus, Carmichael was a man of the people. Known for his smooth talking and engaging personality, Stokely changed the way African Americans viewed themselves. When the world around them told them they were damned because of their complexion, Carmichael stressed to the black community that in their complexion came their power. This message of Black Power led many whites to miscategorized the term as anti-White, rather than his intended message of being pro-Black. Through his own writings, and through the writings of others, we see that Stokely’s significance to the Civil Rights Movement varies. To some, his exodus to Africa removed him from the issues of the Civil Rights Movement causing his story to not be told in high schools across America.
Session Number
RS6
Location
Weyerhaeuser 204
Abstract Number
RS6-d
Stokely Carmichael Biography Abstract
Weyerhaeuser 204
Long before he preached about “Black Power”, moved to Africa, and changed his name to Kwame Toure, Stokely Carmichael was a leader. Throughout his life, whether he was serving as the student council vice president as an eight grader, or leading discussions on Howard University’s campus, Carmichael was a man of the people. Known for his smooth talking and engaging personality, Stokely changed the way African Americans viewed themselves. When the world around them told them they were damned because of their complexion, Carmichael stressed to the black community that in their complexion came their power. This message of Black Power led many whites to miscategorized the term as anti-White, rather than his intended message of being pro-Black. Through his own writings, and through the writings of others, we see that Stokely’s significance to the Civil Rights Movement varies. To some, his exodus to Africa removed him from the issues of the Civil Rights Movement causing his story to not be told in high schools across America.
