The Black Power Movement and Civil Unrest

Book excerpt: By the late 1960s, the slow pace of progress brought about by the civil rights movement caused growing dissatisfaction for some. The assassinations of civil rights leaders during this time convinced many activists that white supremacy could not be countered with silence. The Black Power movement arose to address these concerns by holding a philosophy that black Americans could obtain basic human needs through self-reliance and self-determination. Readers will learn about the movement's ideals, the methods used to achieve them, and the people who led the campaign for improved social conditions for all African Americans.