The required work will help you. Who will you be in this debate? What character will you pick?

RULE FOR THE REPLY- To participate in the debate, you need to research both positions. The required work will help you. Who will you be in this debate? What character will you pick? It does not have to be an actual historical figure. You can be, for example, a white SNCC worker, or a Black Panther working in the breakfast program. Stay in character for your responses because each response is part of the debating. REPLY 150 WORDS MIN

RP-Group A will support SNCC and what evolved into the Black Power movement-
am Rasheed McCall a member of the Black Panther Party. The Black Panther Party believes it is imperative for black communities to learn self-defense and empowerment. With all due respect, the SCLC’s nonviolent approach is insufficient to the systemic and violent oppression faced by Black people in America (Martin Luther King, Jr: Crash Course Black American History #36).

Our belief in self-defense is not about promoting violence but about ensuring the safety and security of our people (The Black Panther Party: Crash Course Black American History #39). For example, let’s look back in 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches where we saw peaceful demonstrators viciously attacked by the law enforcement. This event alone highlights the need for black communities to be able to defend themselves against this type of aggression. SCLC’s nonviolence philosophy which was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi shows proof that nonviolence cannot protect our communities from being met with lethal force.

Focusing on achieving civil rights through legislative changes and integration are important, but this does not address the economic disparities that cast a black cloud over black communities. Our programs in the Black Panther Party such as the Free Breakfast for Children Program and health clinics, provides outstanding benefits to our people. The Free Breakfast for Children Program provides thousands of children with meals that are nutritious, combating hunger and improvement in their academic performance. These programs had a positive impact on the lives of black families (The Black Panther Party: Crash Course Black American History #39). Legislative changes alone cannot achieve such an outcome. The programs also addressed the basic needs and fostering a sense of community and solidarity for black people.
Working within the existing political system to achieve change is a great strategy the SCLC uses. However, the system itself is heavily flawed and rooted in white supremacy.

The Black Panther Party’s Ten-Point Program outlines our vision for systemic change, including demands for full employment, decent housing, education that teaches true history, and an end to police brutality (The Black Panther Party: Crash Course Black American History #39). The goal is to create a society where black people can thrive independently of oppression. We call for a more radical transformation of society, a society that destroys oppressive structures and builds a new system based on justice and equality.

The contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and of the SCLC does not go unnoticed but the Black Panther Party believes their approach is limited and, in the end, will not be liberating for black people.
AP- GROUP A

As a student council member supporting SNCC and the Black Power movement, my role is more than just organizing school events—I see myself as a leader in the fight for self-determination, justice, and empowerment for Black students and our communities. We have spent too long waiting for change through nonviolent appeals to a system that was never designed to serve us. While nonviolence has played a role in the movement, it is clear that simply asking for our rights is not enough. We need real power, real control over our futures, and that means embracing the principles of Black Power.
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) has already shown us the power of grassroots activism. We, as young people, have organized sit-ins, voter registration drives, and direct actions to challenge injustice. But we have also learned that power concedes nothing without a demand, and too often, peaceful protest alone has been met with violence, imprisonment, and even death. That is why the evolution of SNCC toward a more militant stance, one that emphasizes self-defense, self-determination, and community control, is not just necessary—it is urgent.
The Black Panther Party has demonstrated what true empowerment looks like: community-led programs like free breakfast for children, health clinics, and neighborhood patrols to protect against police brutality. We don’t need to ask for change—we can create it ourselves. In our schools, that means demanding Black studies programs, an end to racist disciplinary policies, and student councils that have real power to advocate for Black students.

This is not about hate—it is about pride, dignity, and survival. Black Power means that we take our futures into our own hands, that we define our own identity, and that we refuse to be silent. The time for waiting is over. The time for action is now.
– Your Favorite Student Council Member
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