Power to the people (slogan)

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 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.

"[4] 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.

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.

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.

[9] The song served as the lead single and title track for their fifth studio album Power to the People that was released on June 13, 2000, via the band's independent label, Cyanide Music.

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

A cartoon of workers joining together to raise a giant fist, with the caption "The Hand That Will Rule The World- One Big Union"
Cartoon of workers joining together with a metaphorical giant fist, from an IWW Journal.