Stokely Carmichael Discusses The State of The Civil Rights Movement, The Vietnam War, and White Liberals

 

Stokely Carmichael speaks in this rare clip discussing the status of the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and the problem with white liberals. Black Power as a movement wanted to see African Americans have political, economic, and social equality. Integration meant little, if African Americans did not have the opportunity to influence the wider society. Carmichael emphasized the importance of African Americans being unified in fighting racism, discrimination, and inequality. The issue with white liberals is that they rejected Black Power. Dismantling segregation was not enough, but the white liberals thought it solved America's racial problems. The debate over the Vietnam War caused a divide in the civil rights movement itself. It was not possible to be anti-racist, if one supported a war that was an imperialist intervention. Containment was being used as a cover for the United States to dominate Asia. The funds used to keep the war going harmed the Great Society programs. Stokely Carmichael also asserts that a people must demand their rights. Otherwise, nothing will be gained from a freedom struggle.