1966 – Stokely Carmichael Elected Chairman of SNCC

On May 16, 1966, Stokely Carmichael was elected chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), marking a turning point in the civil rights movement. A Trinidad-born activist, Carmichael succeeded John Lewis and introduced a more militant stance. Under his leadership, SNCC shifted toward Black Power, emphasizing self-determination, economic autonomy, and racial dignity. His use of the phrase “Black Power” during the Mississippi march later that year became a rallying cry for a generation. Carmichael’s influence extended internationally, particularly in linking the African American struggle to global liberation movements in Africa and the Caribbean. His election signaled a departure from strict nonviolence and mainstream integration goals, catalyzing debate over strategy within the broader movement.