“Black Power” and Black Rhetorical Tradition

Chapter seven explores proverbs, sayings, and proverbial expressions used by civil rights activist Stokely Carmichael (1941–1998) found in writings such as: Black Power the Politics of Liberation in America (1967), Stokely Speaks: From Black Power to Pan-Africanism (1971), and his autobiography, Ready for Revolution: The Life and Times of Stokely Carmichael (2003). In the process of analyzing some of the traditional language used by Carmichael, chapter seven also: seeks to identify sources from which Carmichael’s sayings are derived; examines some of the contexts in which they are used; determines the extent that they illustrate Carmichael’s ever-evolving political philosophies and worldview during the Civil Rights Movement; and it also categorizes Carmichael’s proverbs, sayings, and proverbial expressions based on origin, structure, and traits. Additionally, chapter seven considers the extent that his proverbial language is used to establish and reinforce personal and professional relationships throughout his entire life.