The 'civil rights' revolutionary groups are a case in…
“The 'civil rights' revolutionary groups are a case in point. Their goal is not equality but power. The background of Negro culture is African and magic, and the purposes of magic are control and power. . . Voodoo or magic was the religion and life of American Negroes. Voodoo songs underlie jazz, and old voodoo, with its power goal, has been merely replaced with revolutionary voodoo, a modernized power drive.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote argues that certain civil‑rights movements are driven by a desire for power rather than true equality, linking African‑American cultural practices to mystical control.
In simple terms: Some groups seek power, not equality, using cultural symbols.
Key Takeaway
Question motives behind movements.
Themes
power
culture
politics
identity
religion
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
analytical
political
When to use this quote
- civil‑rights activism
- cultural studies
- political analysis
- historical research
Key Concepts
African diaspora
magic
control
revolutionary symbolism
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence supports this claim?
- How do we distinguish power‑seeking from equality‑seeking?
A Different Perspective
It oversimplifies diverse movements and ignores genuine equality struggles.