Many activists and intellectuals, particularly advocates of Black Power, founded institutions and projects in the 1960s–70s to foster black cultural nationalism.

In some northern and midwestern cities, they painted outdoor murals depicting “Black Is Beautiful” or liberation struggles, such as Chicago's Wall of Respect (1967). Founded in Chicago, the African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists (1968) promoted black pride through public art. The Negro Ensemble Company and New Lafayette Theatre were centers of artistic radicalism in New York. Black playhouses and workshops in many cities sponsored performances by artists such as poet-playwright Amiri Baraka and poet Nikki Giovanni, a feminist and nationalist.