Stokely Carmichael, later known as Kwame Ture, was born on June 29, 1941, in Port of Spain, Trinidad, and moved to the United States with his family at a young age. He became a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960s. Carmichael gained national attention in 1966 as the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), where he initially advocated for nonviolent protest. However, over time, his views shifted, especially after witnessing the limitations of peaceful protests in the face of violent opposition. It was during this period that he popularized the slogan “Black Power,” which called for greater autonomy, pride, and political participation for African Americans. His stance marked a shift toward more radical approaches to achieving racial justice and empowerment.
In the late 1960s, Carmichael’s activism expanded to global struggles against imperialism and colonialism. After leaving SNCC in 1969, he joined the Black Panther Party and later moved to Guinea, where he adopted the name Kwame Ture in honor of African leaders Kwame Nkrumah and Ahmed Sekou Touré. Ture’s work continued to emphasize the importance of Pan-Africanism, the unity of African nations, and self-determination for Black people worldwide. His later years were focused on advocating for socialism and solidarity between oppressed peoples across the globe. Kwame Ture’s legacy remains influential in the global fight for racial and social justice, as he challenged both domestic and international systems of oppression.