The political process model identifies three sets of factors believed to be crucial in the generation of social insurgency. The first is the level of organization within the aggrieved population; the second is the collective assessment of the prospects for successful insurgency within that same population; and the third is the political alignment of groups within the larger political environment. Using this model to analyze the politics of black insurgency in 1930-1975, this analysis notes the expanding political opportunities from 1930 to 1954 and expanding organizational strength over the same period. The latter occurred among the Southern black churches, the black colleges, and the southern wing of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. A discussion of the peak of the movement (1955-1965) encompasses the topics of maximum political leverage, growing optimism, the development of organizational strength, and the emergence of a conflict dynamic. A review of the decline of the movement (1966-1975) considers contraction in political opportunities, declining organizational strength, increasing pessimism among blacks, and the emergence of a new conflict dynamic. 72 notes.