Bryan Alvarez

Phil 3633 Ware

March 12, 2021

Reflection Paper #1

Before and during the Civil Rights movement, those who supported the movement

typically stood on one of two sides. Those sides being the Black Nationalism movement, and the

Integrationism movement. James H. Cone goes into detail between the similarities and

differences between these movements in his book Martin & Malcolm & America. In this paper I

will be comparing and contrasting these movements and rationalize why the Black Nationalism

movement was a better response to the overt racism experienced by the Black community in the

1950s.

The Integrationism movement is based on the ideas of integrating races into the same

society and assimilation into American culture for African Americans. In comparison to the

Black Nationalism movement that proposed that the entire black community separate themselves

completely from American culture and even relocate back to Africa, or an entirely new region in

the world to reestablish their culture and society. Major advocates for the Integrationism

movement are Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass, and W.E.B. Dubois while major

advocates in the Black Nationalism movement included Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, and Martin

Delany. The Black Nationalism movement was far more radical than the Integrationism

movement because they actively rejected American culture and placed the importance of their

own society and communities over the rest of society because they felt as that they had been

oppressed too long and deserved to be proud of their race. In comparison, Integrationists were
viewed as less radical and more ‘rational’ in their efforts. They believed that both communities,

white and black, could coexist as long as both were on level playing fields. Famous integrationist

Frederick Douglass believed that this nation was built upon equality for all, stating, “The

Constitution reads, ‘We the people’; not we the white people…” (Cone 5). The Black

Nationalism movement rejected the notion that America was built for blacks and whites to

coexist together in harmony and often scorned the principles that were pushed forward as

‘American ideals’, “…the United States Constitution is a dirty rag, a cheat, a libel, and ought to

be spit upon by every negro in the land.” (McNeal cited in Cone 12) Black Nationalists

completely rejected the idea of assimilation into the white society that ruled the social spectrum

before during and after the Civil Rights movement, while integrationists wanted to feel accepted

by that same society and be able to contribute and be valued the same as whites. However, no

matter how different these two ideologies are, they ultimately were fighting for the same cause,

to be released from the chains of oppression they had faced for over 200 years. They wanted to

either feel like a part of the nation they were oppressed by, or to completely break free and

establish a nation of their own where they were unassailable.

Although I agree that most of the aspects of Integrationism movement were affective, I

believe that it was entirely too slow, and too vain for African Americans before the Civil Rights

movement. I believe that the Black Nationalism movement was a better response to the overt

racism faced by African Americans in the 1950s. Empowerment within one’s own race allows

for a majority of people of that race to feel as if their problems are more important in the grand

scheme of things and makes the movement more appealing to their peers. Black Nationalism

encourages Black empowerment and a sense of community within a group of people that

typically wouldn’t get that from the rest of society. I believe that a group of people shouldn’t be
forced to assimilate into a society that suppresses their culture while also treating them as

second-class citizens, which in this time (and arguably today as well) was happening to African

Americans in America. The Black Nationalist movement offered a solution for that, by not only

giving African Americans a sense of community and protecting their culture, but also by

supporting a return to Africa or relocating somewhere else entirely. I believe this was very

effective, because it took the power of the oppressors and placed it in the hands of the oppressed.

This was in turn, more direct and demanding than the integrationism movement which

progressed slowly over time. That is why I believe the Black Nationalism movement was a better

response to racism in the 1950s, faster more evident progress while staying true to the roots of

the movement instead of compromising like the integrationism movement.

Despite the differences between the two approaches to the Civil Rights movement, both

saw success and defeat in a very tumultuous period in the United States. They both essentially

just wanted freedom for their people and ultimately succeeded. However, I still believe that the

Black Nationalism movement was the more appropriate response to the overt racism and

oppression faced by African Americans during that period, because it was direct and forced

white America to recognize the movement. Their demands were voiced and ultimately pushed

the American public to realize that change was inevitable and necessary.