During the civil rights movement, Martin Luther King stressed the involvement of many groups and reached out to people of all colors in the struggle for equality. The Black Power Movement focused on organizing blacks, sometimes to the exclusion of other groups. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each approach? Which do you think is more effective? Why?

The strengths of excluding other groups gave black people a stronger voice for what they wanted and not what other groups think they wanted. Black people were able to express themselves more comfortably this way. While when other groups were included, they were able to share their opinions and feel included, especially if they supported what black people were doing.

The weaknesses of excluding other groups could have made other minorities (Asian, Native American, etc.) feel as if they were not as worthy of being heard. White people may have felt a certain way about not being able to express and spread their sympathy with the black folk.

Involving everyone was an effective tactic. Even if some people were not black, it let them express their disapproval of segregation and it showed the nation that not all white people were racist and believed the nation should be split.