BLACK IDENTITY
Black is beautiful ...
The influence of the Black Panthers and the Black Power movement attempted to give an identity to black people. Through using the slogan ‘black is beautiful’ the BPP highlighted the fact that being black is nothing to be ashamed of, it is something black people should embrace.
The Black Panther Party, led by Huey Newton and Bob Seale, was influenced by Malcolm X’s aim to create Black Nationalism. X wanted black people to have their own communities that are run and governed by black people themselves. They had very extreme views to accomplish their aim.
Radicals, like the Black Panther Party and the SNCC, felt it was important for black people to forge a new independent identity. Stokely Carmichael and Huey P. Newton felt it was important that young black kids were taught about their African heritage and learn about powerful black figures. They stressed this because African history was full of examples on black radicals overthrowing oppression to gain independence. They also thought that teaching young black people this was crucial to self-esteem, self-respect, independence and pride to themselves.
New identities were also formed. Malcolm X adopted the surname X to recognise that his African surname was lost. The Afro hairstyle was also a popular symbol of black identity. This hairstyle was associated with Angela Davis.
The change in identity had also altered words in the American vocabulary. Words like ‘Negros’ and ‘colored’ had negative connotations attached and were associated with slavery and segregation. Activists rejected this and adopted the word ‘black’ to refer them to. The word ‘black’ had positive connotations, freedom and pride, which was another reason why it was adopted.
The Black Panther Party, led by Huey Newton and Bob Seale, was influenced by Malcolm X’s aim to create Black Nationalism. X wanted black people to have their own communities that are run and governed by black people themselves. They had very extreme views to accomplish their aim.
Radicals, like the Black Panther Party and the SNCC, felt it was important for black people to forge a new independent identity. Stokely Carmichael and Huey P. Newton felt it was important that young black kids were taught about their African heritage and learn about powerful black figures. They stressed this because African history was full of examples on black radicals overthrowing oppression to gain independence. They also thought that teaching young black people this was crucial to self-esteem, self-respect, independence and pride to themselves.
New identities were also formed. Malcolm X adopted the surname X to recognise that his African surname was lost. The Afro hairstyle was also a popular symbol of black identity. This hairstyle was associated with Angela Davis.
The change in identity had also altered words in the American vocabulary. Words like ‘Negros’ and ‘colored’ had negative connotations attached and were associated with slavery and segregation. Activists rejected this and adopted the word ‘black’ to refer them to. The word ‘black’ had positive connotations, freedom and pride, which was another reason why it was adopted.