Final Answer:
By 1966, Black leaders like Stokely Carmichael and Malcolm X were proponents of Black Power.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the mid-1960s, amidst the civil rights movement in the United States, Black leaders such as Stokely Carmichael and Malcolm X became advocates of a philosophy known as Black Power. This term encapsulated a shift in focus from civil rights to a more assertive demand for political and economic empowerment within the Black community. Stokely Carmichael, who later became the leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), popularized the term during the Meredith March Against Fear in 1966.
The concept of Black Power emphasized self-reliance, cultural pride, and an unapologetic stance against racial oppression. Malcolm X, who had previously advocated for Black separatism, also supported this shift towards Black Power before his assassination in 1965. Together, these leaders sought to empower African Americans to take control of their destinies and challenge systemic racism on multiple fronts.
Black Power, as championed by Carmichael and Malcolm X, rejected the notion of integration as the sole solution to racial inequality. Instead, it called for a radical transformation of society that would grant Black individuals political and economic autonomy. The movement urged African Americans to embrace their cultural heritage, fostering a sense of unity and resilience.
The call for Black Power was a response to the limitations of the civil rights movement, which, despite its successes, had not fully addressed the systemic issues affecting the Black community. The philosophy influenced subsequent activism and laid the groundwork for the Black Panther Party and other organizations that emerged in the late 1960s, shaping the trajectory of the struggle for racial justice in the United States.