Since time immemorial, social identity and racial constructs have been at the center of human history. Carmichael and Charles’ article on “Black Power: Its Need and Substance” provides a comprehensive analogy of the plight of black people in the world. The author begins by documenting the struggle for the identity of black people amidst the power of the white race. Indeed racism is an emotive variable in societies that affects people’s interaction and development. Although black power is evident in the historical injustices, struggles for independence, and prevailing racial discrimination, it is important to understand how these factors affect social peace and coherence worldwide, as indicated in this article.
The historical injustice coined as the slave trade had irreparable implications for the black communities. Carmichael and Charles contend that the black did not have any identity, only following instructions from enslavers; hence need to find space to redefine their position in society (p 37). Concurrently, the white used the enslaved people to build cities and develop their firms, including using them to work in plantations, yet the blacks were never allowed to have their unique identity and space. Such acts of suppressing the identity of black culture to diminish their power influence have been consistent across various settings in world history.
Also, racism has had far-fetched consequences among black people worldwide. The black community suffers massive backlash on many socio-political platforms because of discrimination, including education, health access, and social amenities. Thus, I concur with the author on the premise that blacks are highly vulnerable. For instance, there have been biased police brutality meted upon black people, like the case of George Floyd, who died from police manhandling.
The other element of black power is political space for black people in the US. Here, the authors contend that the Whites have expressed a show of power dominance, lynching blacks, burning their churches, manipulating laws, and killing their children to maintain white supremacy in politics (p 49). Indeed such events maim the liberation and integration of black in American politics and fuel social injustices in different settings.
To conclude, this article provides a critical evaluation of black power. Indeed, black society has been under darkness and lawlessness, having lost its identity to slavery, racism, and continued social segregation. To realize this power, Blacks must redefine their position in society and identify their historical roots. Thus, besides activism, there is a critical desire to explore the cultural dynamics of black people and help them retain their socio-political power in modern society.
Works Cited
Carmichael, Stokely, and Charles V. Hamilton. “Black Power: Its Need and Substance.” American Identities: An Introductory Textbook (1967): 158.