Black Power 1-3

  In chapters 1-3 it gives a common perspective amongst African Americans, but in a very unique and impactful way. I feel that Kwame Ture and Charles V. Hamilton layout their thoughts almost perfectly starting with what they mean by "Racism." "By 'racism' we mean the prediction of decisions  and policies on considerations of race for the purpose of subordinating a racial group and maintaining control over that group" (pg. 1). It is also easy to read and understand the concepts of individual racism and institutional racism. Individual racism meaning an individual act against blacks and for institutional racism it acts more as a collective group to keep blacks oppressed. "Institutional racism relies on the active and pervasive operation of anti-black attitude and practices. A sense of superior group position prevails: whites are 'better' than blacks; therefore blacks should be subordinated to whites" (pg.5). Another interesting idea is that "The larger the Negro population the greater the perceived threat (in the eyes if the whites) and thus the greater resistance to broad civil rights laws" (pg.7). This idea makes sense to me because it is easy to see that with larger numbers of blacks there is more potential power that comes along with the large group. In many cases power comes with numbers and whites are not ready to give up their privilege. Whites cause a greater resistance for this exact reason, to not give up their superior power and privilege that they have. Later in the text it discusses how there may be need to fight for reorientation. In doing this they must challenge the privileged. "Black people in the United States must raise hard questions, questions which challenge the very nature of the society itself: its longstanding values, beliefs, and institutions" (pg.34). They believe that to do this they need to redefine themselves and reclaim their history. There is a constant tug-of-war going on between the blacks and whites, one fighting for equality and one fighting to keep their privileged position.

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