Stokely Carmichael Biography

Stokely Carmichael was among the frontrunners of the ‘American Civil Rights Movement’ in the 1960s. He vowed to fight racism at an early age and hence turned down scholarships to many reputed Universities to study in the historically black ‘Howard University’. In college, he seized every opportunity to contribute to the civil rights movement and joined organizations like ‘CORE’, ‘SNCC’ and ‘Freedom Riders’ to further his cause. Being an effective organizer with excellent oratory skills, he was entrusted with key activities like campaigns for registering black voters. He wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty and was arrested numerous times during his protests. Initially, Carmichael was in favour of non-violent protests but as the government remained indifferent to his demands and the police brutalities also showed no signs of stopping, his patience exhausted and his approach became more radical. Following yet another unjust arrest, he announced his new philosophy of ‘Black Power’ to the world. The concept won him many followers, especially among the younger generation. However, it had its fair share of detractors too, who labelled the concept as a form of ‘Black Racism’. Carmichael continued his activism even after leaving the US. He is remembered today for his intense campaign against all forms of racism, hence heralding a new era in US history.