What is the Black Power movement, and who popularized the term?

• A. A movement emphasizing Black self-determination and economic empowerment; popularized by Stokely Carmichael.
• B. A movement focused on international diplomacy rather than domestic issues.
• C. A campaign for desegregation only through court lawsuits.
• D. A youth education initiative without political goals.

Answer: (A)

Black Power centers on Black self-determination, economic empowerment, and control of Black communities. It pushes for pride in Black identity, leadership from within the Black community, and the building of independent institutions to meet Black people’s needs, rather than relying only on integration into white-dominated systems. The term was popularized by Stokely Carmichael (later Kwame Ture) in 1966 during a rally in Greenwood, Mississippi, as part of the Meredith March Against Fear, signaling a shift from a sole focus on legal rights and nonviolence to a broader demand for political and economic power in Black hands. The emphasis is on empowerment and self-definition, not just desegregation through courts, international diplomacy, or education-only programs.