'Black separatism' is a separatist political movement that seeks a separate homeland for black people. Parallel to
white separatism, there also exists a similarly ''black separatist'' movement, particularly in the
United States. Black separatists generally think that whites are racist oppressors of blacks and that there can be no remedy for black advancement within contemporary white-dominated society. They believe the only solution is for blacks to break away and create a separate society controlled by persons of African descent.
The more specific goals were historically in flux and varied from group to group.
Martin Delaney in the 19th century and
Marcus Garvey in the 1920s outspokenly called for African Americans to return to
Africa, by moving to
Liberia.
Benjamin "Pap" Singleton looked to form separatist colonies in the American West. The
Nation of Islam calls, much more quietly, for an independent black state on American soil. Much more mainstream views within black separatism hold that blacks would be better served by exclusively black schools and businesses, as well as by black local politicians and police.
The mainstream black separatism is sharply opposed by anti-segregationists and integrationists within the African American community. They generally hold that blacks can and should advance within the larger American society and call on them to work to achieve that through personal improvement, educational achievement, business involvement, and political action.
Martin Luther King, who was a key speaker and leader in the political effort to overthrow segregation in the 1960s, and
Malcolm X, who until May 21, 1964 was known as a black separatist from the
Nation of Islam, may personify the opposition between the two views.
Compare
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White separatism
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White supremacy and
Black supremacy
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White pride and
Black pride
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White Power and
Black Power
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White nationalism and
Black nationalism
External articles
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Black Power Movement: Information
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Pan African: Information
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Afro Diaspora: Information