Who was the first to popularize the slogan "Black Power"?

• A. Malcolm X
• B. Stokely Carmichael
• C. Martin Luther King Jr.
• D. Angela Davis

Answer: (B)

The slogan "Black Power" was popularized by Stokely Carmichael, who was a leading figure in the Civil Rights Movement and later a prominent voice in the Black Power Movement. He introduced this term during a speech in 1966 while working with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). The phrase represented a shift in the struggle for civil rights, emphasizing racial pride, economic empowerment, and a more militant approach to achieving equality and justice for African Americans.

Carmichael's advocacy promoted self-determination and the importance of Black communities taking control of their own political, social, and economic destinies. His message resonated with many who felt that the nonviolent approach championed by leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. was insufficient for addressing the systemic racism and oppression faced by Black Americans.

While figures like Malcolm X and Angela Davis contributed significantly to the discourse around racial empowerment and social justice, it was Carmichael's articulation of "Black Power" that firmly associated the term with the broader movement for Black autonomy and pride. The term gained traction and became symbolic of a new phase in the fight for civil rights, reflecting a more assertive stance against racial injustices.