#AP African American Studies: Night Before Review 🚀

Hey! Let's get you feeling confident and ready for this exam. We're going to break down the key stuff, make connections, and get you prepped for anything they throw at you. Let's do this!

#1. Black Religious Nationalism and the Nation of Islam

#1.1. Nation of Islam: Foundations ☪️

Origins: Founded in Detroit, 1930 during the Great Migration. Think of it as a response to both racism and the search for community in new urban environments.
Core Beliefs:
- Blended Islamic tenets with Black Nationalist ideology.
- Unique mythology: Black people as the original humans; white people created by an evil scientist named Yakub. This reversed racial hierarchy, promoting Black pride. 💡
- Promoted self-sufficiency and community building.
Key Idea: The Nation of Islam provided a sense of identity and empowerment in the face of systemic racism.

Memory Aid

Think of the Nation of Islam as a powerful response to racism and a call for Black empowerment, using a unique blend of religion and nationalism.

#1.2. Elijah Muhammad's Leadership

Leadership: Led the Nation of Islam from 1934 to 1975 from Chicago.
Name Changes: Encouraged followers to adopt Muslim surnames or use "X" (e.g., Malcolm X, Louis X) to reject slave names and reclaim identity. 🔑
Economic Empowerment: Established NOI-owned businesses (restaurants, schools, farms) to create a self-sustaining community.
Black Separatism: Advocated for an independent Black nation within the U.S.

Quick Fact

Elijah Muhammad's leadership was crucial in shaping the Nation of Islam's ideology and its impact on the Black community.

#2. Transition from Civil Rights to Black Power

#2.1. Black Power Movement Emergence ✊🏾

Disillusionment: Mid-1960s, some African Americans felt the Civil Rights movement was too slow and didn't address systemic issues.
Key Shift: Moved from integration and nonviolence to self-determination, cultural pride, and self-defense.
Global Influence: Inspired by decolonization movements in Africa and elsewhere.

Key Concept

The Black Power movement was a direct response to the limitations of the Civil Rights movement and a call for more radical change.

#2.2. Malcolm X's Principles

Background: Muslim minister and activist, initially with the Nation of Islam, then left in 1964. * Autonomy: Advocated for Black-owned institutions rather than integration. 🏢
Self-Reliance: Believed Black people needed to develop pride in their own culture and rely on themselves.
Self-Defense: Criticized nonviolence, a...

Black Religious Nationalism and the Black Power Movement

Maya Hall