“Say it loud! I’m Black and I’m Proud!”

These are the words from the hook of one of James Brown’s most notable songs. The song itself was released in 1968, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. With the (then) recent assassinations of Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., racial tensions in the United States appeared to be at an all-time high, and such a song seemed to be the voice of many Black Americans who grew frustrated with the status quo.
Black pride in post-slavery America was exclusively and heavily promoted by Marcus Garvey. In the early 20th century, Garvey was the founder and leader of the U.N.I.A., an organization which emphasized economic and political self-reliance for Blacks on an international scale. Garvey even preached the need for Black dolls for Black girls, explaining how the effects of imagery can leave a lasting impact on these young children.
The late 1960s and early 70s saw Blacks sporting big Afros, wearing Dashikis, and chanting the phrase “Black Power”, coined by Black activist and organizer Stokely Carmichael—later known as Kwame Ture—in a 1966 speech. Perhaps the most well-known catalyst in the eyes of many during this time period were the Black Panther Party. Started in Oakland, CA in the same year as the famous Carmichael “Black Power” speech, this group of Black revolutionary figures such as Huey Newton, Bobby Seale, and Fred Hampton sought to invoke social, political, and basic human rights reform for oppressed Black men, women, and children. As the early 1970s dawned, Black America as a whole was affected by the new desegregation laws that were implemented across the country.
As a result of desegregation, many Black owned businesses, communities, and other institutions ceased to exist over the next four-plus decades. However, for the years that preceded desegregation, many areas of the country hosted proud Black communities that thrived economically, socially, and culturally, such as Tulsa, OK, Rosewood, FL, and Durham, NC. Such a trend became the cause of concern for many, including Civil Rights leader King himself. In a conversation King had with entertainer, activist, and friend Harry Belafonte, he stated that he felt that by fighting for integration with the intent to receive better treatment of Blacks within American society, he was “integrating them (Blacks) into a burning house (America)”.
Perhaps the next strong wave of Black pride occurred in the late 1980s and early 90s. Hip-hop groups such as Public Enemy and Brand Nubian would push a heavy pro-Black message in their songs, and television shows like The Cosby Show and A Different World would often endorse HBCUs by having their cast members wear the schools’ gear on the shows. The Spike Lee directed film Malcolm X inspired many Black youths to wear the “X” labeled ball caps and sweatshirts. African medallions and Dashikis made their return during this same period as a fashion choice of many Blacks as well. Black scholars and speakers such as Dr. Khalid Muhammad and Sister Shahrazad Ali would even make regular appearances on the mainstream daytime talk show circuit, sparking much needed dialogue in the Black community in response to the issues they would publicize.
Today, there seems to be a resurgence in Black awareness and unapologetic pride. Like 1915’s Birth of a Nation influenced White America as a movie laced heavily with racist propaganda, 2009’s Good Hair (produced by Chris Rock) and the Hidden Colors franchise are films that have been proven to be highly influential, critically acclaimed, and tackle issues in a light much different than the traditional Hollywood produced films that feature Blacks. Nationally certified psychologist and educator Dr. Umar Johnson (also of Hidden Colors) has spearheaded his campaign to open a school dedicated to the education of Black youths. Hip-hop artist Cyhi the Prynce even released a mixtape titled Black Hystori Project in early 2014.
With the Obama Administration failing to serve the sociopolitical needs of Black America in conjunction with the rampant police brutality, mass incarceration, and miseducation of Black men, women, and children, many Blacks have discovered—and accepted—that in order to gain the respect and become a viable force on the highly competitive world stage, the community has to become cohesive in their efforts to return to respectability. Will this “conscious” movement of the love of all good things pertaining to Black people persist? Only time will tell.

 by B. Clark