Concrete Demands The Search for Black Power in the 20th Century [Hardcover]

Between the 1950s and 1970s, Black Power coalesced as activists advocated a more oppositional approach to fighting racial oppression, emphasizing racial pride, asserting black political, cultural, and economic autonomy, and challenging white power. In Concrete Demands, Rhonda Y. Williams provides a rich, deeply researched history that sheds new light on this important social and political movement, and shows that the era of expansive Black Power politics that emerged in the 1960s had long roots and diverse trajectories within the 20^thcentury.

Looking at the struggle from the grassroots level, Williams highlights the role of ordinary people as well as more famous historical actors, and demonstrates that women activists were central to Black Power. Vivid and highly readable, Concrete Demandsis a perfect introduction to Black Power in the twentieth century for anyone interested in the history of black liberation movements.

Introduction
Part One
Chapter 1: A Mad Society: Crucibles and Portents of Black Power
Chapter 2: From Negro Power Toward Black Revolt
Chapter 3: The Time Is Arriving Now
Part Two
Chapter 4: Into the Publics Eye
Chapter 5: Girding Up Urban Power Struggles
Chapter 6:  The World Cries FREEDOM
Chapter 7: Revolution for Whom?: Unraveling Romantic Black Unity
Epilogue: Echoes
Bibliography

Concrete Demandsis a tour de force. Rhonda Y. Williams's panoramic study of Black Power in the 20th century offers a comprehensive and insightful history of the way in which one of the most controversial social movements of the 1960s transformed American democracy and race relations. In doing so it stands out as one of the most important books ever written on the era.

Peniel E. Joseph, author of Dark Days, Bright Nights: From Black Power to Barack Obama

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