Black Power Deconstruction of Carmichael's Reaction Paper

Sociological Theory

In sociological terms we could refer to the sociology of knowledge and the view that reality is socially constructed. This theoretical perspective explores the relativity of social knowledge and the way that knowledge is formed and structured in society. Berger and Luckmann's work entitled The social construction of reality: A treatise in the sociology of knowledge (1966) could be applied to this speech in that it provides insight into the relative perceptions of social reality.

The work by Berger and Luckmann enabled a more speculative and open discussion of the ways in which "natural" aspects of life are seen to be in reality socially determined and constructed. More importantly this theoretical stance investigated the was that these 'realities' are shaped and formed by institutional structures and education etc. We could apply such an analysis to the deconstruction of white hegemonic structures in society that perpetuate a biased view of race and find correspondences in the views of Carmichael. A quote from literature on this theory will suffice to show its applicability to an analysis of this speech. "…the world of knowledge was constituted by cultural authority figures. Men not only defined leadership, they also determined what was incorporated in knowledge about it "(Turock, 2001, p. 115).

Conclusion

The above analysis of the Black Power speech provides insight into an inte4nse radicalization of the civil rights movement in the 1960s.Carmichael's views were not shared by everyone and a more integrative and conciliatory mood was to prevail in the movement as a whole. There was also criticism of his leadership style and in 1967 Carmichael stepped down as chairman of SNCC.

In many ways the views that Carmichael expressed were as result of what he saw as the futility of the non-violent approach to achieving the aims of the civil rights movement. Carmichael became convinced that true freedom and liberation for black people must take place on their own terms and not in relation to the dictates of white society. He became increasingly conscious of the fact racism is a social force that is encoded in the structure of society. Carmichael became more separatist in his ideas and eventually even left the Black Panther Movement due to their inclusion of whites.

References

Biography: Stokely Carmichael. Retrieved from http://www.answers.com/topic/stokely-carmichael

Gallagher V. ( 2001) Black Power in Berkeley: Postmodern Constructions in the Rhetoric of Stokely Carmichael. Quarterly Journal of Speech, 87 (2), pp. 144-157.

Stokely Carmichael: Black Power. Retrieved from http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/stokelycarmichaelblackpower.html

Turock, B. (2001). Women and Leadership. Journal of Library Administration, 32(3-4), pp. 115-137......