How accurate is it to say that the growth of Black Power was the most important factor in the weakening of the civil rights movement in the 1960s? Essay Example
The growth of Black Power was one of the most important factors in strengthening the civil rights movement. Though it may have weakened it to a certain extent, other factors played a greater role in any weakening that may have occurred.
The Black Panther Party were one of the greatest groups to rise up against racist America, acting with the law and bearing arms for self-defence. They believed in Marxism and argued that a capitalist America would never be free and freedom “could only be gained through revolution led by the working class”. Whilst the Black Panthers were often criticised for bearing arms, they used the defence that the US constitution gave them the right to do so. When the police complained over the Black Panthers carrying arms, the Panthers pointed out that the police carried arms and used them to install fear, particularly amongst the black community, only highlighting how hypocritical the police are. The Panthers highlighted their aims in The Black Panthers Ten Point Program, which included “we want an end to the robbery by the capitalists of our black community”The Panthers protested against the police brutality (in a campaign named ‘Patrol the Pigs’), and would often observe them as they made arrests, something the police argued against. This war against the police brought attention to the racism and abuse the police exhibited, which the media would often catch on film and broadcast. The Panthers strengthened the movement even more with their community help; they provided free medical care for those who needed it and brought awareness to the medical condition concerning sickle cell anaemia, something largely ignored by the government at the time. By 1974, over 200 free clinics had been set up around America, and the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Control Act was set up in 1972, using government money to research the disease. The Panthers worked to help African Americans living in Northern ghettos, setting up the Free Breakfast for School
The Black Panther Party were one of the greatest groups to rise up against racist America, acting with the law and bearing arms for self-defence. They believed in Marxism and argued that a capitalist America would never be free and freedom “could only be gained through revolution led by the working class”. Whilst the Black Panthers were often criticised for bearing arms, they used the defence that the US constitution gave them the right to do so. When the police complained over the Black Panthers carrying arms, the Panthers pointed out that the police carried arms and used them to install fear, particularly amongst the black community, only highlighting how hypocritical the police are. The Panthers highlighted their aims in The Black Panthers Ten Point Program, which included “we want an end to the robbery by the capitalists of our black community”The Panthers protested against the police brutality (in a campaign named ‘Patrol the Pigs’), and would often observe them as they made arrests, something the police argued against. This war against the police brought attention to the racism and abuse the police exhibited, which the media would often catch on film and broadcast. The Panthers strengthened the movement even more with their community help; they provided free medical care for those who needed it and brought awareness to the medical condition concerning sickle cell anaemia, something largely ignored by the government at the time. By 1974, over 200 free clinics had been set up around America, and the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Control Act was set up in 1972, using government money to research the disease. The Panthers worked to help African Americans living in Northern ghettos, setting up the Free Breakfast for School