One of the most enigmatic leaders of the Civil Rights Movement was Howard University student and SNCC leader Stokely Carmichael. Born in the Carribean and raised in New York, Carmichael, a gifted speaker, first came to prominence during the extremely dangerous Freedom Rides. Carmichael worked closely with Martin Luther King, Jr. and other leaders, but always retained his own unique persona. In 1966, during a march in Mississippi, Carmichael coined the phrase “Black Power,” which drove a wedge between Carmichael and King.
“It is a call for black people in this country to unite, to recognize their heritage, to build a sense of community. It is a call for black people to define their own goals, to lead their own organizations.”
At the close of the Civil Rights Movement, Carmichael, like King, moved on to antiwar protests, traveling to Cambodia and North Vietnam to dramatize his cause. He even joined the Black Panther Party, renouncing his committement to nonviolence. In 1969, Carmichael and his wife, Miriam Makeba, moved to Africa, where he became forever-known as Kwame Ture.
Here is another good link on Carmichael.
TheStateOf. . .Stokely. In my opinion, Carmichael is vastly underappreciated by most contemporary black Americans. He was instrumental as an organizer and motivator. He possessed natural leadership qualities that led to great achievements. Though spontaneous and self-glorifying, Carmichael did his duty when duty called.
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