3 Civil Rights Figures
MLK Jr, Stokely Carmichael, Tommie Smith & John Carlos
#1 Martin Luther King Jr
Background Info:
- Born January 15, 1929
- Was a pastor at his local church
- At age 35, he was the youngest to recieve the Noble Peace Prize
- Was assassinated on April 4th, 1968
Symbolic Leader
- Promoted non-violent protests
- Many liked him for his beliefs in the Civil Rights Movement
- Gave many powerful speeches and "I Have a Dream" was one of his most famous ones
- Considered a symbolic leader in America and the rest of the world
#2 Stokely Carmichael
Background Info:
- Born June 29th, 1941 (Trinidad)
- Moved to the United States in 1952
- Died of cancer on November 15, 1998
Black Power
- Became part of Freedom Riders in 1961
- Criticized Martin Luther King Jr and his ideology of non-violence
- Made his Black Power speech in 1966
- Later he joined the Black Panther Party
#3 Tommie Smith and John Carlos
- Won in 1968 Olympics
- When they received medals, they were shoeless (wore black socks) to represent black poverty
- During the national anthem, both Smith and Carlos raised their fists in the Black Power Salute
- Were booed when leaving the field and later expelled from the games
- Their families received death threats when back home
Their Message
MLK Jr: promoted non-violent ways to acheive peace
Stokely Carmichael: violence would help get things done quicker and it was ok to fight back
Smith and Carlos: to stand up against racism and overcome black struggle