Question

The Civil Rights movement began to splinter in the 1960's as some began to question the success of the non-violent approach used in the movement.

a) True
b) False

Answer 1

This statement is true.

In the 1960's many African Americans and black leaders rejected integration and non-violence in favor of separatism and aggression. Many were concerned about the cost of the peaceful approach - many injuries and deaths, without really resolving the segregation in the north of the country, concentrating on the southern part only.

A movement called Black Muslims emerged, with Malcolm X as its spokesman, demanding a separate, black only nation in the USA. This movement thought non-violence meant non-defense, thus admitting to racial segregation.

Another extreme black leader was Stokely Carmichael with his Black Power. He advocated the rights of black people to take their own power, without waiting for the whites to give it to them.