The Black Power/Civil Rights movement was a time of social upheaval and change – for the better and the worst. Contrasting ideologies (social, economic, political) vied for attention during the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Using works like Martin Luther King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” and James Baldwin’s “Going to Meet the Man,” compare and contrast how, for example the ideologies of integration compare to those of nationalism that we see in Malcolm X’s “The Bullet or the Ballot” and Larry Neal’s “The Black Arts Movement.” Specifically, explore how ONE set of contrasting ideologies functions within his text. In order to prove your point, you will need to use AT LEAST TWO of the poems from the Black Arts Movement and consider what the impact of politics should be on the construction of a “black” aesthetic. Are the works you have chosen more or less compelling than protest fiction, where the narrator or protagonist seems to be directly engaged with oppressive forces? In choosing this option, you should also think about another element that comes through in the narration (i.e. whiteness or sexuality in Baldwin) to add to your discussion. Also, consider themes such as: middle class vs. lower/working class; democracy vs. socialism/communism; non-violence vs. violent self-defense; integration vs. nationalism.
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