1967 – Stokely Carmichael Coins “Institutional Racism”

On May 30, 1967, civil rights leader Stokely Carmichael (later known as Kwame Ture) delivered a powerful speech where he coined the term “institutional racism,” fundamentally shifting the conversation around racial justice. Speaking to a group of activists in Berkeley, California, Carmichael argued that racism was not just individual acts of prejudice, but deeply embedded in the systems and structures of American society. The phrase became a cornerstone in understanding systemic inequality in policing, education, healthcare, and housing. Carmichael, then chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), emphasized Black Power, self-determination, and community control as necessary responses to institutional oppression. His insight helped frame modern discussions on structural racism and remains a key concept in social justice education. May 30 marks the moment this vital term entered public discourse, catalyzing decades of activism and policy critique.