B.P.P

1966 in Oakland California, Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale founded the Black Panther Party. Originally named Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, the mission of the group was to protect the African American community in Oakland from police brutality. The 1960’s were a turbulent time across America and African Americans did not feel safe and protected by the people who were supposed to protect them.

Woah, Deja Vu.

Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale met at Merritt College in 1965. At the time they were heavily influenced by the rise of the Black Nationalist movement, and they read a lot, I mean A LOT. Gaining inspiration from prolific authors such as James Baldwin and political strategist like Frantz Fanon, Newton and Seale shaped their outlook on how to save the black community. And thus the Black Panther Party was born.

“We want land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice, and peace.”

Black Panther 10-Point Program, #10

The Black Panther Party’s founding document, The 10-Point Program, addressed the critical issues that challenged the African American Community. There were two main programs formed under the Black Panther Party. As mentioned earlier, patrolling and protecting the community was one. During the patrols the Panthers would dress in a very specific, now iconic, uniform. Leather jackets and black berets, to show their discipline as a unified organization as well as their burgeoning black power identity. The second mission of the black panther party, as equally important as neighborhood patrols, was community service. The Black Panthers set up medical programs, after-school programs, and a free breakfast program so the kids wouldn’t have to go to school hungry.

The Black Panther Party is often times viewed as a radical and violent hate group. However, the Black Panther Party was an important facet in the Black community. They provided a safe haven for African Americans to turn when they couldn’t turn anywhere else. Because of their importance to the black community the popularity of the Black Panther Party grew and by 1970 they had over 30 chapters nationwide from coast to coast.

Unfortunately, the Black Panther Party disbanded by 1971. Groups exist today that claim to carry on the mission of the original Black Panther Party, however they are not truly associated with the original organization.

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