Who was the leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) who later abandoned nonviolence to promote Black Power?

Stokely Carmichael was a prominent leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) who became a significant advocate for the Black Power movement. Initially, the SNCC was deeply committed to nonviolent protest and civil rights, echoing the philosophies of leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. However, as the movement progressed, Carmichael recognized the limitations of nonviolent tactics, especially in the face of systemic racism and violence. His call for Black Power in the 1960s marked a shift towards a more militant and assertive stance that emphasized racial pride, self-reliance, and the need for African Americans to create their own empowerment. This transition encapsulated a broader ideological shift within parts of the civil rights movement during that period, as activists sought to address the deep-seated inequalities and injustices facing Black communities in America.

Understanding Carmichael's evolution in his approach helps articulate the complexities within the civil rights movement and illustrates the divergent paths activists took to confront racial oppression.