Stokely Carmichael and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were both prominent figures in the Civil Rights Movement, but they had different approaches and philosophies.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. advocated for nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience. He believed in achieving racial equality through peaceful means and was inspired by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech emphasized his vision of a society where people would be judged by their character rather than the color of their skin.
On the other hand, Stokely Carmichael, who later changed his name to Kwame Ture, was a leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and later the Black Panther Party. Carmichael popularized the term “Black Power,” which called for racial pride, self-reliance, and the establishment of political and cultural institutions for African Americans. Unlike King, Carmichael believed that nonviolence was not always effective and that African Americans should defend themselves against racial violence.
In summary, while both leaders fought for civil rights, Martin Luther King Jr. focused on nonviolence and integration, whereas Stokely Carmichael emphasized Black empowerment and self-defense.