Power to the people (slogan)

"Power to the people" is a cultural expression and political slogan that has been used in a wide variety of contexts.

Uses

In politics

During the 1960s in the United States, young people began speaking and writing this phrase as a form of rebellion against what they perceived as the oppression by the older generation, especially The Establishment. The Black Panthers used the slogan "All Power to the People" to protest the rich, ruling class domination of society. Pro-democracy students used it to protest America's military campaign in Vietnam.

In his 1974 book Computer Lib, Ted Nelson connected computer use with political freedom with the rallying cry "Computer power to the people! Down with the cybercrud." In the mid-1980s the People Power movement arose in the Philippines to oust Ferdinand Marcos. In the late 20th century and early 21st century the phrase has been used with regard to energy policy.[1]

The Pakistan Peoples Party has as its creed, "Islam is our faith; democracy is our politics; socialism is our economy; all power to the people."

During the Anti Apartheid struggle in South Africa, the terms Amandla and Matla were used frequently during speeches and rallies, this was followed by the crowd responding with Awethu or Kee A Rona. These terms respectively mean "Power" and "To the people". These terms are still frequently used in ANC meetings and conferences as well as among student activist groups such as SASCO and the ANC Youth League.

Margaret Thatcher criticised the use of the slogan by the left in a 1986 speech: "Socialists cry 'Power to the people', and raise the clenched fist as they say it. We all know what they really mean - power over people, power to the State."[2]

It is also the name of the left-wing to far-left Italian coalition Potere al Popolo.

In television

The 1970s television series Citizen Smith had the title character use the slogan in the title sequence.

In music

"Power to the people" is the title of a song by John Lennon and a lyric by James Brown: "Power to the people, people power!". "Power to the people, 'cause the people want peace" is also chanted on the Public Enemy album New Whirl Odor. Rage Against the Machine quoted the slogan in their song "Year of tha Boomerang". The Jamaican reggae band Rootz Underground wrote a song entitled "Power to the People" in which they quote this slogan in both English and South African versions.

Saxophonist Joe Henderson released his album Power to the People in 1969.

One of the more politically extreme singer-songwriters is Quino, the lead singer of the reggae band Big Mountain who also wrote a song entitled "Power to the People" and then had a tattoo of "Power to the People" along with the fist placed on his chest.

The electronic house music artist Basement Jaxx released a song titled "Power to the People" on their album Junto in 2014.

In advertising
  • "Power to the People" was spoken by an actress in a Progressive Auto Insurance advertisement in heavy television rotation during 2009.
  • "Power to the People" was used as a theme in advertising by Ever Ready batteries.[3]

Variations of the slogan

A popular variation of the slogan is "Power to the Poor People!" Amongst others, the South African social movement the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign uses the slogan to express the need for poor people to control their own movements rather than have wealthy donors or NGOs control or speak for them. The divide between South Africa's independent social movements and many leftist and vanguard organisations in South Africa has become a point of contention.[4][5]

The South African slogan "Amandla Ngawethu" or "Amandla Awethu" is also a popular variation of the Power to the People. It literally means "The power is ours" but is used in a similar way as "Power to the People". It is often used in a call and response format, with the speaker shouting "Amandla" and the crowd replying "Awethu".

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See also

References
  1. Nichols, Dick (2008-02-22). "Power to the People! Keep energy public!". Green Left. Archived from the original on 2008-11-09. Retrieved 2009-03-25.
  2. "Margaret Thatcher Speech to Conservatie Central Council". Margaret Thatcher Foundation.
  3. Video on YouTube
  4. "African movements continue their fights against NGO authoritarianism". Anti-Eviction Campaign. Archived from the original on 2009-05-01.
  5. "Backyard-dwellers attempt to occupy vacant land and then march on Housing MEC's posh home in Gugulethu". Abahlali baseMjondolo.
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