Rushton Journal of Undergraduate Humanities Research
Abstract
This paper explores how fashion served as a powerful political tool during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s-70s, tracing its evolution from the polished Sunday Best to the Afro and militant style of the Black Panther Party. By examining respectability politics, the rise of the Black is Beautiful movement, and the Black Panthers’ visual strategies, this research explores how clothing and style reflected shifting approaches to resistance. It argues that Black Americans used fashion to challenge Eurocentric standards, reclaim heritage, and express pride, leaving a legacy of empowerment that continues to influence social movements.
Recommended Citation
Saleh, Ava
(2025)
"The Politics of Style: How Black Fashion Redefined Identity in the Civil Rights Movement (1950s-1970s),"
Rushton Journal of Undergraduate Humanities Research: Vol. 3, Article 2.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/rushton/vol3/iss1/2
