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Difficulty: MediumThe Black Power Movement

Read the excerpt below from the Gary Declaration, issued at the National Black Political Convention in 1972:

"Both [major] political parties have betrayed us... The challenge is to move from protest to politics, from dependency to self-determination. We must build our own institutions, control our own communities, and organize our political power to serve our own needs."

Based on the excerpt, which of the following best explains how this declaration reflects the goals of the Black Power Movement?

  1. A
    It champions the integration of Black voters into existing major political parties as the primary way to achieve racial equality.
  2. B
    It demands racial retribution and the complete exclusion of any cooperation with non-Black organizations to foster anti-white sentiment.
  3. It highlights the movement's focus on collective self-reliance, community control of institutions, and independent political organization.Answer
  4. D
    It rejects political processes entirely, arguing that armed resistance is the only viable path to liberation.

Answer

The correct answer is the option highlighting the movement's focus on collective self-reliance, community control of institutions, and independent political organization.
The Gary Declaration reflects the Black Power Movement's core emphasis on self-determination, community control of local institutions (such as schools and neighborhood organizations), and the development of independent political power, moving beyond the integrationist goals of the early civil rights movement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the source text to identify the core message.
The text criticizes the existing two-party system ("Both political parties have betrayed us") and calls for a shift "from protest to politics, from dependency to self-determination" and building independent institutions.
Understanding the author's intent is necessary to determine which goal of the movement is being expressed.
2
Connect the text's themes to the historical goals of the Black Power Movement.
The focus on building independent institutions, controlling local communities, and pursuing self-determination directly aligns with the Black Power emphasis on political and economic self-reliance rather than assimilation or integration.
This connection helps isolate the correct response from distractors that mischaracterize the movement's objectives.
3
Evaluate the options against the analysis of the text.
The option emphasizing collective self-reliance and community control matches the text's call for self-determination. The other options either incorrectly advocate for integration, reduce the movement to anti-white sentiment, or falsely claim a total rejection of political action.
This step ensures that the selected answer is both historically accurate and directly supported by the provided stimulus.

Key Concept

Political self-determination and community control in the Black Power Movement
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

The Black Power Movement

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