1967 – Stokely Carmichael Coins “Black Power” in the Caribbean

On May 10, 1967, Stokely Carmichael (later known as Kwame Ture), a Trinidadian-born civil rights activist, delivered a groundbreaking speech at Queen’s Hall in Port of Spain, Trinidad. It was the first time many in the Caribbean heard the term “Black Power” directly from one of its originators. Carmichael’s message challenged colonial legacies, economic inequality, and the psychological impacts of white supremacy. His call inspired a new generation of Caribbean youth to reject Eurocentric cultural values and reclaim their African heritage. This address was pivotal in igniting the Black Power Movement in Trinidad and Tobago, which would reach its height in the early 1970s. The Trinidadian government, viewing Carmichael as a radical threat, banned him shortly after the speech. Still, his words sparked political activism and pride throughout the Caribbean. This moment catalyzed nationalist movements that shifted regional discourse from assimilation to liberation and empowerment.