Who was Stokely Carmichael, and what concept did he popularize?

• A. A SNCC leader who popularized "Black Power," emphasizing Black self-determination and community control.
• B. The founder of the NAACP; authored the Brown v Board decision.
• C. A governor who opposed civil rights reforms.
• D. An opponent of civil rights who led a counter-movement.

Answer: (A)

Stokely Carmichael rose to prominence as a leader in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee during the 1960s, and he popularized the phrase Black Power. This idea centers on Black self-determination—Black communities gaining control over their political, economic, and social institutions, along with a sense of pride and unity. It marked a shift from a sole focus on integration with white society to empowering Black people to shape their own futures and build independent community structures, even as some followers emphasized more assertive tactics to achieve these goals. This concept influenced later civil rights-era movements and discussions about empowerment within Black communities.

He did not found the NAACP or author the Brown v. Board decision, nor was he a governor opposing civil rights or a leader of a counter-movement.