ABSTRACT
Throughout the twentieth century, there have been few general approaches to the struggle for black empowerment in America. There are strengths and weaknesses to each of the strategies for black advancement. The number of African-American elected officials since 1964 has increased from barely 100 to 8,000; the number of black mayors during the same years rose from zero to 400. But the problem of an inclusionist approach is that it frequently confuses "symbolic representation" with genuine power. Black leadership should be at the forefront of defining alternatives on local, state, and national issues. Building a new black leadership means expanding the numbers of African-Americans who are registered to vote and conducting political education campaigns in churches and community centers. The Black Freedom Movement must reclaim the integrity and the creativity of the "soul" of the black people—their sense of inner integrity and pride in their heritage; their poetry, music, and dance; their cultural traditions and worldview.
