In the early 1960s alternative approaches to the Civil Rights movement developed. Organisations which advocated different approaches included the Nation of Islam and the Black Panthers.
In 1966 Carmichael was elected national chairman of the SNCC. Shortly afterwards, he used the slogan ‘Black Power’ for the first time and had several aims:
African Americans should not wait to be given civil rights. Instead, they should develop their own communities with their own facilities, such as schools and hospitals.
Black people should meet violence with violence.
African Americans should be proud of their culture and heritage.
The video below shows Stokely Carmichael speaking to a crowd about Black Power.
In 1967 Carmichael co-wrote the book, Black Power. Some civil rights campaigners accused him of promoting anti-white racism in the book.
He eventually left the SNCC in 1968 and joined the more aggressive Black Panthers.