The Rise of Black Consciousness and its Impact on Non-whites - Literature review Example

The rise of Black Consciousness and its impact on non-whites The up rise of black consciousness in the period of 1967-1977, was a driving thrust of black people across the world to build self-importance and unity amongst all the demoralized9 (Levine, 2007:112). In American history, the term came into existence due the feeling of American Blacks perceiving that their race was viewed as filled with spinelessness, feeble and non-accomplishing laypeople. In this regard, Black Nationalist Martin Delany’s catalyzed the black community across America to take pride in their color as the initial steps to their racial freedom. This was later to grow into a movement with Steve Biko, a South African medical student leading it in the Apartheid regime of the southern country (Sisulu, 2011:47). This movement took in wide-ranging things such as race perception, race relation, black pride, black influence, and even innovatory consciousness. This paper will explain in depth the impact of this movement on black perception. First, the movement aimed at making Black People and coloreds under whites’ dominion to be aware of their history and their place in it. The non-whites were experiencing a period of white supremacy, slavery. This period was characterized by fervent activists notably Muhammad Ali-the great Afro-American Boxer who is praised for his heroism (Saeed, 2007: 202). The great man denounced racism and the racial prejudices that arose with this period. Since his reign as a great boxer, Muhammad Ali has greatly influenced the Black Nationalism (Levine, 2007:194). His personal struggle as a black man in finding a liberal space in a white community formed part of his long fight back. This movement, developed black people consciousness and a force to which compelled the entire black community to look deeply within itself. The gradual revolution of seeking out a self definition rose deeply rooted within the black history and their culture (Boyer, 2007:76). They wanted to cut down the exaggerated perception which white people measured them with. Respect for African race and cultures were the main creed. According to Dr. Saeed, civil rights and black consciousness period were the catalyzing eras for the raise of recognition of all human rights. The whites had alienated everyone even the silent course of anti-Muslim was there. The era had no social justice. It was this neglect that prompted prominent activists to mobilize the non-whites to create if possible a better world as compared to their counterparts. The course of black consciousness called for a core figure to lead from forefront. Dr. Saeed reiterates that black heroes like Ali and Malcom X who led Muslim brothers had to rise up and shun anti-racism. While Malcom led in the field of political decolonization of the blacks, Saeed says that Muhammad showed that blacks were capable of conquering whatever was viewed as white dominion grounds. The movement reinforced black identity. There was agency to place the blacks and Muslims in a recognizable social class. Dr. Saeed highlights how Ali was highly thought of in his fights against white counter parts. The all black community and the Muslims joined hands to support him during his fights. The boxing events were received with great anticipation across the entire black community because one of their own was involved- a black brother. Some even were never sport fans but the black supporters were thrilled to be associated with Ali. He was a leader, and a conqueror, a man of greatness (Saeed, 2007: 202). The whites treated Ali with maximum respect and this was an awesome reflection to the aspiring black community. This kind of self belief portrayed by Ali was what the black consciousness was fighting and instilling among its people. To Saeed, Ali was a black man who had shifted his religious stance to Islam but was not scared and dared challenge the white racist colonialists in his triumphs (Saeed, 2007: 202). Moreover, black consciousness empowered the blacks to advocate for an equitable social class. At those days the Afro-American people had poor access to social benefits like housing and education. This caused long term discontentment among the blacks and it created inferiority perception. The Black Power Movement grew rampantly. They grew impatient with whites’ resistance policies and discrimination. The non-whites now needed change. The rise of great Ali to a stardom position in white culture was not an easy journey. According to Dr. Saeed, Muhammad was born of a poor black working class family in Kentucky. Ali’s childhood was riddled with social injustices and stereotypes. Kentucky was a town on the upper south. As expected of those days, the region was nervous of the racist Jim Crows laws that had reduced blacks into peasants. The laws prevented them from owning decent homes, acquiring stable jobs and even sharing the same social amenities and services with whites (Levine, 2007:65). Dr. Saeed tries to create a picture of a seemingly impossible mission of a black child who left a legacy despite the odds. This was the basis which Black Conscious Movement was founded-creating a way for their livelihood with relentless agitation. As a determined kid, Ali strove and managed to escape the poverty that was well established among his kinsmen all through his teenage years. The 1960 medal winning was the turning point and a mark to the entire black community. Even though activists claimed that it was impossible to pride yourself as an American yet you had been born in that country, Ali’s triumph proved otherwise. The blacks had sensed some rays of hope in their movement. Black people had been pushed and congested their house in the south and west side of the city which was referred to as the ghettos. There was segregation to house ownership. The blacks could not cope with the discriminative rules applied by the estate agents even though they were able to acquire the house. They were regarded as inhuman and could deserve no comparison to the superior whites. Dr. Saeed explains how Ali had been banned from participating the 1967 Cleveland competition because he had legitimately and consciously objected being drawn into the army. His argument was not analyzed from an insightful view but simply as a black man who had defied a white government’s policy. These tenets of social imbalances were the values which were embedded in the 1960s Black up rising. The movements was concerned is elevating the welfare of the people. They wanted to negotiate for their position in labor unions, and the obstructing employment rules which worked totally against them. Black job applicants were denied open chances where by the employers questioned the low education standards of the blacks. These were the schemes which Black Revolution was fighting for. As a result, social crimes sky rocketed in the cities due to lack of employment. Furthermore, the non-whites where inspired by the movement and aimed ending the white oppressive supremacy and the culture of exploitation directed towards them (Boyer, 2007:185). The movement meant it known to the people that they could only redeem themselves. According to Ali’s perception, the black people had to have a conscious awareness of the whites system and come up with strategies of survival. He believed that the force drive should come from the in depth determination of the oppressed. Muhammad served to remind the people, the long historical struggle their ancestors had come through. In his motivating address, he urged the black community not to settle for less but keep flowing like a river, never giving up till the goal is achieved. In his review, Dr. Saeed says that to some extend, Ali gave an internationalist outlook and an understanding on the level the African American are supposed to belong (Saeed, 2007:143). Ali was born and lived seeing how oppressed the blacks were. In his entourage during the fights, he spoke of how the blacks were coming together not only in the American grounds but also the entire world. He spoke metaphorically of the joined voices against racism. He had accomplished so many wins and served to inspire the other blacks that the fight for recognition was deemed possible. It is this agitation and relentless struggle to end white culture dominion that the group’s ability had been felt by the ruling white class. The interminable life span of the Black Consciousness had been internalized and transmission to the coming generations was inevitable. Just like the way he fought in his competitions, to some extend he advocated for fierce confrontation. Like the way Dr. Saeed puts it, Ali’s boxing battle integrated the whites and the non-blacks in the same arena. At the end of it all, his win was a sign message of post coming triumph of the blacks. This is strongly affirmed in today’s America (Saeed, 2007: 202). Thus the Black Conscious Movement which pulled the oppressed from all over the world embraced his winning tactics of integration and confrontation. The movement was encouraging people to define and redefine their aims and goals. It urged the blacks not to abandon their heritage, culture and their aspiration. This was seen as the only eternal and possible way of subduing the white dominant culture into listening (Boyer, 2007:92). The movement sought also to secure their rights from such agencies as Federal Government and Courts. The determination with which the blacks invented the sports, the media, television and literature presented another broad and diverse cultural level (Levine, W., 2007:163). They had become more vocal and assertive. The confidence the non-white had gained was a momentum that later would spread and impact the while world on issues of racism and oppression. Black Power was now the main stream that raised the non-white’s social level to a recognizable ground and reduced the dominance of the whites. This later assured a successful push towards having non-racist civil rights movements. With tension now cut down and white community seemingly accommodative, the black Americans began to pursue their fortunes such as education, professional education and home ownership. This was a milestone considering the system was totally not for any lesser means for Africans. All in all the domination had been reduced and freedom was gaining place in the society. In conclusion, the black power movement saw the formation of Afro-American group of elites referred to as The Black Panthers. Due to the historical injustices that had befallen the community of the blacks in America, the push for federal government to act was not near to ending. This new generation of prolific leaders, branded themselves as the heirs to spearheading the black American issues and their rights. Tension between the two races was high following the assassination of Malcom X (Boyer, 2007:185). The group aimed at carrying on and they brought forward a programme of demands which the federal government was supposed to provide. They had political and social demands such as: Provision of freedom and self-rule for black people and release of all black people held in prisons They needed black judges to try black people. End of police brutality and blacks to be exempted from military services. Access to full employment and improve the low wages which were termed as robbery to black people. Realistic education that taught the truth of the unjust society Access to modern housing (Saeed, 2007:87). This was one of the many country wide spread civil rights movements that were creating awareness among the people during black revolution period. There was widespread wake up call to blacks not to submit to any discriminatory act from the whites. The sporting world that Ali was involved was never short of such dramas. The events of blacks having not submitted to racism acts and the raising voice of Martin Luther Jr. attracted Ali and he attended some of these groupings. He consequentially became a follower of the civil rights movements. His involvement as an outstanding figure meant a lot to the black community. He was an inspiration. He later joined the Islamic black movement which called for blacks to hold unto their pride. Ali’s pride towards his own race was given accolades especially when he won the world heavy weight champion. He raised high the black supremacy. Everyone wanted to be associated with him. Considering that he was black, it was overtly ironical to the white world. Muhammad personality carried with it the spirit and determination of the black consciousness revolt of these days. His boastful public persona and stints such as floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee seemed to carry the message of afro American revolt and struggle for equality (Levine, 2007:210). Dr. Saeed portrays a far reaching perception of such non-white heroes like Ali and Luther, on the push for civil rights legislation and integration (Saeed, 2007: 202). They cautiously informed the fellow blacks not even the confrontation line they had chosen will liberate them but it will leave them somewhere in the light. The black power consciousness led to revolutionalised black race (Boyer, 2007:230). 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