King and Carmichael met that day for five hours, along with members of their staffs, at a small Catholic parish house in Yazoo City. King explained his concerns about “Black power.” Carmichael dismissed them. “Black power” didn’t mean violence, he said; it meant strength, self-determination. “Why not use the slogan ‘black consciousness’ or ‘black equality’?” King asked. Those expressions were soft, Carmichael said. They didn’t inspire action or courage.
