The Black Panthers

A presentation by Elizabeth Klein, Michelle

Urbina-Montero, and Amanda McQuade
Essential Question:

What creates greater social change-

national legislation, court decisions,
organizations, or leadership, or the civic
participation efforts and sacrifices of
local communities?
Introduction
The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s had yielded mixed results for African Americans. On the one hand, a liberal president
was in office, and he made racial justice one of his primary goals. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, officially ending
segregation throughout the country. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 expanded upon the 15th Amendment and finally addressed the
problems black people faced when voting. Through peaceful, nonviolent means, the Civil Rights Movement seemed to be gaining
ground.
However, soon after Martin Luther King Jr.’s death, the movement began to change. Nonviolence was no longer glorified as
the superlative strategy to attain social equality. If white people had reacted violently to even the most basic requests of equality, if
white police officers were shooting black bystanders, if white people had murdered Dr. Martin Luther King, then why should black
people sit back and let it happen? Why shouldn’t they defend themselves? Why should they forever be nonviolent?
Many civil rights activists lost hope in a movement based on peaceful change based on cooperation with whites. They wanted
radical change, and they didn’t want to compromise their rights for the comfort of white people. The Black Power movement gave a
voice to this group that opposed the mainstream of the civil rights movement. It consisted of black nationalists who empowered
themselves by advocating a halt to dependence on whites. From this movement came the Black Panther Party, a militant political
group of radical civil rights activists who took pride in their race and were ready to defend themselves against their attackers, even if it
meant using violence. The organization was based on a “From the Trenches” perspective, however, they may have been more
popular and their efforts more effective had they implemented an approach that incorporated more “View from the Nation” ideology.
Thesis

The Black Panthers Party created great social change locally

through civic participation and the efforts and sacrifices of

local communities, however, they failed to generate the

support necessary to make great change on a national level.

 Formation
Originally founded by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale in
1966, centered in oakland, california.. Created in response to
the assassination of Malcolm X, and after San francisco
police shot an unarmed black teen, Matthew Johnson.

The original purpose of the Black Panthers was meant to

protect the residents of black neighborhoods from police
brutality, and sought to provide armed protection.

The black panthers drew widespread support from cities

with large minority communities, including chicago,
Philadelphia, and even had its own chapters in Winston
Salem and Greensboro, NC. They gathered over 2,000
members on a national level.
Ten-Point Program and Objectives
As the Party came into formation, the original 6 members
drafted and outlined their views and objectives in a Ten Point
Program. This program called for the end of police brutality
in primarily black neighborhoods, employment and housing, for
African American men to be exempt from the military, and the
demand for every African American man to be armed.

The Black Panthers eventually adopted Socialist-Marxist

Ideology along with their Pro-Black and Far Left stances, and
started community social programs, such as Free Breakfast for
Children, free healthcare clinics, Youth Institute, and Seniors
Against a Fearful Environment (SAFE).
The Original Six Members (1966)

Pictured top left to right: Elbert Howard, Huey P. Newton, Sherwin

Forte, Bobby Seale, Reggie Forte, and Robert Hutton
Social Programs
Black Student Alliance- Also known as BSA, the Black student alliance is an organization that
operates on college campuses that strives to give black students a voice against unjust policies and
programs. Many public and private campuses still have an operating bsa.

Free Breakfast for Children Programs- one of the first social missions envisioned by seale and
newton, the free breakfast for children program was apart of their efforts to revolutionize high-
level education for black students, and provided them with free breakfast in the mornings to “fuel”
them for learning.

Free Employment Programs- apart of the “survival” programs list, the free employee program
sought to help unemployed, impoverished black men and women find work opportunities. Often faced
with discrimination in the workplace, this program attempted to provide a comfortable work
environment, and sought to help the issue of poverty that was common in black neighborhoods.

People’s Free Medical Centers (PFMC)- were buildings that were structured for offering health
services, such as physical exams, flu treatments, cancer screenings, and immunization against deadly
diseases. These were mostly run by women who went on to become health care professionals and
certified doctors and nurses.
 Pictured Below: Bill
Whitfield serving free
breakfast to students in
Kansas City, as a
volunteer of the Free
Breakfast for Children
program in the kansas
city panther chapter,
circa 1969

Pictured Above: Two Drivers of the black

older women pictured panther ambulances,
with People’s Free photographed around
Food Program bags 1969. These ambulance
filled with food, circa programs drove through
neighborhoods and
1972.
sought to provide free
healthcare for those in
need.
 Women of the Black Panthers
Although the Black Panthers were originally formed by two men, approximately 60% of the Black Panthers
were women.

Women became powerful voices for the Panthers; as time went on, women were all drawn to the party for
many different reasons; many joined after Oakland Police shot and killed Bobby Hutton, one of the Panther’s
first recruits in 1968, to respond to police brutality, and Hutton became a martyr and example of racism and
state repression.

Women also began to join in the 1970s as they saw opportunity for political expression and a welcoming
space for members to become prominent leaders in their communities. This was also a time period when
debates about gender and sexuality surfaced in the Party itself. Huey P. Newton, founder of the organization,
issued that it was important that the Black Panthers not only support the Black Separatist movement, but
the Women’s liberation movement as well.

Eventually in August 1974, Elaine Brown took over head chair of the Black Panther Party, and became the
first and only women to lead the Organization.

Some famous female leaders of the Black Panther Party include Kathleen Cleaver, Angela Davis, Judy Heart,
and Tarika Matilaba, the first female member who demanded that Black Women could join the Panther
Party.
 Angela Davis

Kathleen Cleaver Elaine Brown

Contributions to civil rights
Although many programs were meant to be helpful for those in need in the African
American communities in the United States, the Black Panthers were often met with
controversies due to their use of violence, military-esque buildup, Marxist-Communist
political thinking, and radical left ideology.

The Black Panther Party believed that martin luther king Jr. had done little to no changes
for their lifestyles with his non-violent campaign, and were willing to take a more violent
approach to gaining civil rights. Originally titled, “The Black Panther Party for Self-
Defense”, they lived up to the original name, as the panthers used tactics such as protesting,
picketing, strikes, and public events that drew global attention to their use of public
protests while carrying weapons and wearing military-style black uniforms and berets.

The Panthers often protested at segregated businesses and government buildings. The Black
Panthers also created their own newspaper, which became a weekly publication. The
newspaper was started in 1967, and was often used as a tool for recruitment and publicity
from the Media. However, financial problems arose, and the project was eventually dropped.
 The Black Panthers marching
during a “Free Huey” protest,
circa 1968.

Bobby Seale and Women became very

Huey P. Newton loud, and very
circa 1966 holding important voices
weapons as a for demonstrations
symbol of defense, and protests,
formerly outlined especially during
in their 10-Point the “Free Huey”
Movement around
Program.
 Controversies and Violence
Although among the panthers themselves and the communities they
built, social programs and political progress was seen as mostly
positive, the nation carried a very different view to the panthers’
actions.

a foundation of the formation of the panthers by seale and newton,

and outlined on the 10-Point Program, was the end of police brutality
against african americans. This was largely debated, but the eventual
“solution” against police brutality was one of the downfalls that
eventually lead to the dissolve of the BPP. The “solution” to the issue
was to follow the police around, and this often resulted in
harassment and conflict between the panthers and the police.
Murder, Martyrs, and “Free Huey”
As previously mentioned, the Black Panthers used death and martyrdom of their members to
gain popularity and proof of racial discrimination. The Panthers were also founded after the
assassination of Malcolm X, giving further motivation for the Black Power movement. This
event, combined with the Death of Bobby Hutton in 1968, Mark Clark and Fred Hampton in 1969
after the FBI raided his home, and the murder of Betty Van Patter in 1974 encouraged more
people to join due to their deaths as revolutionary leaders.

Not only did murder fuel the fire to the Black Power movement, but the trial and arrests of
Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale in 1968 and 1969 emphasized particular importance to make
the court of law unbiased against people of color. Huey P. Newton was tried and convicted of
voluntary manslaughter for killing an oakland police officer, while Seale was accused of
killing another black panther informant. These trials sparked outrage and protest as a
demonstration in New Haven, CT accompanied Seale’s trial as he was chained to the chair and
gagged. During Newton’s trial and conviction, similar protest occurred.

The Slogan “Free Huey” became so popular in 1970, that he was freed after appeals were made
for incorrect deliberation.
 The FBI and Downfall
As directly addressed in Huey P. Newton’s 1970 address to the Revolutionary People’s Constitutional
Convention, the Panthers were meant to be a “separatist, militant, and isolated social group” that focused
primarily on communist ideology, making the Black Panthers a very prominent FBI target during the Cold
War and during the Counterculture movement.

In 1969, the FBI declared the Black Panthers as a communist government and an enemy to the United States
government

J. Edgar Hoover, the director of the FBI at that time, had called the Black Panthers, “One of the Greatest
Threats to the nation’s internal security”.

As a result of this, the FBI worked to try to weaken the Panthers by trying to dismantle their social
programs, such as the Free Breakfast for Children Program, and worked to exploit rivalries between
nationalist groups.

The Black Panthers eventually closed all operations in 1982, as it’s downfall was primarily caused by the
FBI and the fault of the Panther Movement itself. Propaganda posters often made bold claims and
slanderous material that caused discredit. The FBI also also encouraged leaders to turn against one
another, leading to corruption within the party itself.
Primary/Secondary Resources
Primary Resources
H- During this time period (in 1960s) high levels of discrimination against African American continued even tho rise of Civil Rights
leaders had developed, this resulted in many African Americans becoming impatient and furious. The "Freedom Riders" ("Freedom
Riders" Leave D.C. An interracial group of protesters board buses and travel to the South to test President Kennedy's commitment to civil
rights.)demonstrates the change in the African American society by the increase of action being taken through African Americans. This
lead to the African american society’s voice finally being heard and taken into account.

I- The author is trying to influence American eyes, capturing the great amount of people supporting the Black Panthers Party. With the
great amount of support the Black Panthers have show the immense of power they contain. This most likely would lead to Americans
not only to take the Black Panthers into account but to also become aware of their great influential power within society through their
perseverance.

P- Stephen Shames is the author of this photograph. He is an American photojournalist who for over 50 years has used his photography to raise
awareness of social issues which included the issues with in the African American society. Stephen Shames position of acquaintance with Sealed
lead to the purpose of his photography. The tight relationship with Seale opened a new point of view on Americas society by having access to the
inner world of the Black Panthers Party and being American.

P- With the impacting and influential access into the world of the Black Panthers Stephen Shames decided to capture the great power
the Black Panthers had within the society of America. With these photographs, such as the one above, it allowed him to physically show
the power contained by the Black Panthers and the idea of them through his point of view, which was passionate, strong, negotiable,
and influential. Also being American gave him a chance to grasp the attention of Americans through his photographs.
Primary Resources
Bobby Seale “The 10 point Program of the Black Panther Party”:

H- The enforcement of police skyrocketed during this time period based on the increase of African Americans standing up and speaking what
was on their mind, specifically because of the influence of the Black Panthers Party. Bobby Seale was within his speech he formated his speech
similar to the United States Bill Of Rights of the U.S. Constitution. This tied in the demand of rights and independence, while also creating great
impact towards American ears.

I- Bobby Seale focused on the African Americans who were present during his speech by igniting their hope, perseverance, and passion
towards African American rights and demands, he achieved this through the focus of equality and justice within the 10 point program, leading
the gain of support for the Black Panthers party. This new power also lead to more actions being able to be taken such as increase in benefits
for African Americans through health or opportunities that were not available before.

P- The author is Bobby Seale, he is an African American, his race allowed him to experience the similar unjustful life that all of African
Americans had during this time period. This lead into the development of the “10 point program” speech, which included many personal
opinions that all African Americans contained about their own race being treated unrightfully.

P- Bobby Seale created this speech in order to add fuel to the diming fire of hope within African Americans. He couldn’t stand the fact of how
basic African Americans demands were but still Americans would not accomplish these demands, and how much time had passed without any
true change within Americas society. Bobby Seale also took the chance within his speech to speak his mind with full emotion behind his voice,
in order to hopefully catch Americans attention for them to understand the suffrage of African Americans society.
Video
Video
Conclusion
The Black Panther Party is remembered for many different things, both good and bad. But at its core, it was a movement based
on the ordinary people who were unsatisfied with life in black communities. Not only did it give a voice to those frustrated with the
limited advancement of the civil rights movement, but it protected those voices and consisted of those voices. It had central leaders but
boasted of no one spokesperson for the entire movement. While this may have allowed for greater expression of ideas from greater
members of the black communities that participated in the Black Panthers Party, it may have hindered the progress of the group.
This is not to say that the Black Panthers movement was unsuccessful. The organization found supporters across the country
and was able to provide food, medical resources, protection, and greater educational opportunities to many black communities.
However, it was nowhere near as successful as the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, the Black Nationalist Movement of the 1920s.,
or the movement of the Nation of Islam It’s possible that this is because there was no central leader to represent the movement or take
it to a federal level. In other words, there was no central figure to bring the group to national attention and advocate according
legislature. Each of the aforementioned groups had a leader: Martin Luther King Jr. for Civil Rights, Marcus Garvey for Black
Nationalism, Malcolm X for the Nation of Islam. These movements undoubtedly experienced success—even Malcolm X’s support of
Islam, which didn’t produce any subsequent legislature, launched the group into national attention, mostly because of Malcolm X’s
fame. The Black Panther Party had no such leader; Huey Newton and Bobby Seale never gained enough recognition to significantly
propel the movement forward. Therefore, it can be argued that they had no central leader to remember the party by, both now and in
the ‘60s. Had they put more emphasis on leadership that would advocate on a national level for reform through legislature and court
decisions, the Black Panthers could have attained much more success in their endeavors.
Works Cited
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Duncan, Garrett Albert. “Black Panther Party.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 12 Apr. 2018,
www.britannica.com/topic/Black-Panther-Party.

“The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense.” Socialist Alternative, www.socialistalternative.org/panther-black-rebellion/the-

black-panther-party-for-self-defense/.

White, Matthew D. “Methods and Strategies of the Black Panther Party in Their Attempt to Be Law-Abiding.” Senior Papers,
2002, cdm16324.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15170coll2/id/2731.

“'Policing The Police': How The Black Panthers Got Their Start.” NPR, NPR, 23 Sept. 2015,
www.npr.org/2015/09/23/442801731/director-chronicles-the-black-panthers-rise-new-tactics-were-needed.

Blakemore, Erin. “How the Black Panthers' Breakfast Program Both Inspired and Threatened the Government.” History.com, A&E
Television Networks, 6 Feb. 2018, www.history.com/news/free-school-breakfast-black-panther-party.
Cary-Alverez, Jana. Revolution or Reform: Contradictions Within the Ideology and Actions of the Black Panther Party,
1969-1970. 13 Apr. 2014, soundideas.pugetsound.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer.