Black Power was a compelling vision of Black self-determination, and a clear repudiation of King’s emphasis on nonviolence and integration. “It is a call for Black people in this country to unite,” Carmichael explained, “to recognize their heritage, to build a sense of community. It is a call for Black people to define their own goals, to lead their own organizations.” It was also far more confrontational: “When you talk of Black Power,” Carmichael said, “you talk of building a movement that will smash everything Western civilization has created.”37
