Hugh Pearson's The Shadow Of The Black Panther

In Oakland, California in October of 1966 Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale what was known as the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. Newton and Seale were two African-American activists. It began as poor black people from the same community joining together and entwining in the same ideology. The Black Panther Party is considered the first organization in the history United States of America, to struggle militantly exert oneself for ethnic minority and working-class famishment. Bobby Hutton, seventeen years of age at the time was the first person to agglutinate himself as a Black Panther, aside Newton and Seale.

Though he was basically functionally illiterate leaving high school Newton decided to pursue his education at Merritt College . Newton became involved in the radical politics that were dominating the california Bay Area. He joined the Afro-American Association and played a role in getting the first black history course adopted as part of the college's curriculum. . It was at Merritt where he met Bobby Seale. The two were briefly involved with political groups or school organizations before they set out to create one of their own. The party took after the philosophical ideas of violence when

     Organized in the 1960s at the height of the American Civil Rights Movement, the Black Panther Party emerged as a revolutionist group pioneering a strategy of militancy. The Party’s aims were to eliminate the discrimination challenging African-Americans in America since the time of slavery, and to protect their communities from police brutality. Inspired by contemporary radical leaders such as Malcolm X, the party recognized that in order to restructure American society so that civil equality was obtainable by all people, a much stronger opposition was necessary. Party members felt the passive resistance adopted by their predecessors fighting for equality proved

      There were many events in the Black Panther Party wither many people that did them. Here are some of them. In 1968 Bobby Seale was charged with inciting riots during a Democratic Party National Convention. While in prison Seale was also charged with the murder of Alex Rackley, a former police officer. The trial was held on May 25th, 1971, but left with a hung jury. The judge ordered all charges to be dropped. Stokely Carmichael was also important to the Panthers. Carmichael was arrested 35 times for his part in the civil rights movement, and eventually left the U.S. for an African country called Guinea. In 69’ Carmichael resigned from The Black Panthers. Huey Newton also had a big impact on the civil rights movement. On October 28th 1967 Huey P. Newton was charged with killing a cop while he was currently in the hospital suffering from a wound. A year went by and it was finally certain that Newton is guilty of involuntary manslaughter. When released Bobby Seale and Huey renounced political violence.

The Black Panther’s beliefs were based on Malcolm X. Malcolm spoke for a militant revolutionary. He said that it should be done with dignity and self-respect, to stand up and fight for equality for all oppressed minorities. The Black Panthers followed Malcolm’s idea of international working class unity. The way the party enforced this was by uniting with various minorities and white revolutionary groups. The Party had four major goals: equality, housing, employment, and civil rights. For this the party had “The Point Program.” This was a set of guidelines for the Black Panther Party ideas and ways of operation. Every Black Panther member had to follow these set of rules.

Huey Percy Newton, better known as the co-founder of the Black Panthers. Was born on February 17, 1942 in Monroe, Louisiana. To Amelia Johnson Newton and Walter Newton, a sharecropper and Baptist preacher. The Newton’s respected Louisiana's former governor Huey P. Long so much that they named their seventh and youngest son after him. Long who was perhaps the most controversial governor that Louisiana’s has ever had, and was killed seven years after being elected governor. Walter was known for working several jobs to support his enormous family. He was very against Amelia working outside of the home. The family migrated to California during the 1940s, in search of professions in the war industries.

Who would know that a ragtag group of a bunch of blacks would turn out to be the most influential black rights movement? A group so controversial that there are many perspectives of how the general public views them. The Black Panther Party strikes up an immense amount of controversy despite their inactivity of almost 35 years. From the law enforcement’s perspective, The Black Panther Party were viewed as radical criminals who randomly murdered innocent police officers. Though from the standpoint of many blacks of the time, they were viewed as heroes and martyrs, those who died and cared for their community. As James McBride vibrantly describes in his memoir, The Color of Water, his relationship toward The Black Panther Party was

Imagine it is the 1960’s: conflict in Vietnam had sparked widespread protest at American college campuses, people all over the country were reading the The Feminine Mystique and fighting for increased equality among the sexes, and the Civil Rights Movement was at its peak. African Americans throughout America were uniting for the common cause of equality, however differing ideology and beliefs regarding how equality could be achieved divided them. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X rose as prominent leaders in the fight against racial inequality, the latter typically credited with the development of more violent methodology which excluded white involvement and conceived the movement of “Black Power.” The Black Panthers, members of a political party formed by college students Huey Newton and Bobby Seale in 1966, are typically associated with the idea of black power and the legacy of Malcolm X despite the fact that he had died a year prior to the party’s founding. While the idea of black power is easily and mis-conceivably associated with the idea of black supremacy and violence, The Black Panther Party primarily sought a spot for African Americans next to that of whites, not above. The Black Panther Party, despite its violent appearance and legacy, made a positive influence on American history through its platform based on equality, human rights, and patriotism.

The black panther party formed by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale was a revolutionary power unlike any other group in the 60s. They formed a militant to protect the black community after witnessing countless racial attacks and prejudice. The group was famous for there anything go’s thinking including violence against police brutality which was common even after the civil act laws took effect. They also installed programs

The Black Panthers were formed in California in 1966 and they played a short but important part in the civil rights movement by gathering African Americans and uniting them together so they can fight for what they believe in. The Black Panthers believed that the non-violent campaign of Martin Luther King Had failed and any proposed changes to their lifestyle via the ‘traditional’ civil rights movement, would take too long to be implemented or simply not introduced. The two founders of the Black Panther Party were Huey Percy Newton and Bobby Seale. They preached for a “revolutionary war” but their party was believed to be African-American and they were willing to speak out for all those who were oppressed from whatever minority group. However, the Black Panthers were generally targeted by the FBI and they used dirty tactics such as forging letters to provoke conflict between the BPP’s leaders; organising the murders of BPP leaders initiating a “Black Propaganda” campaign to convince the public that the BPP was a threat to national security. “Carmichael is adamantly against allowing whites into the black liberation movement, explaining whites cannot relate to black experience and have an intimidating effect on blacks." Carmichael is a Black Panther. He did not want whites in the Party because he felt they

Huey Newton (1942-1989) Dr. Huey Percy Newton was an African- American political activist and revolutionary who pursued an education earning a Ph.D. in Social Philosophy. Best known for founding Left-wing militant Black Panther Party with Bobby Seale in 1966. The organization made headlines with controversial rhetoric and militaristic style of revolution.

Some things they were known for was giving back to their community, being strong brave leaders, and a voice for African Americans. Furthermore, they strived to be positive leaders in their community the way Malcolm X and Martin Luther King were leaders in their community. Although the BPP ended in 1982 the New Black Panther party started in 1989. Even though, the NBPP is active today they don’t have the same values as the original group; such as equal rights, no racism, and revolutionary solidarity. The New Black Panther Party has many different values then what Huey Newton, Bobby Seal and the

In the mid-1960s, Newton attended Merritt College, where he met Bobby Seale. The two radical thinkers were ready to spread their message with a show of force. They began by making national news through protesting a gun bill on April 25th, 1967 by entering the California Legislature fully armed. Newton emerged as a leading figure in the black militant movement and The Panthers were instantly notorious. By the end of 1968 seventeen Panther chapters had opened across the country and thousands of members joined (Wasserman, Steve). Later that year Newton was arrested for allegedly killing an Oakland police officer, he was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to two to 15 years in prison. Growing support from across the nation of Black Panthers sparked a “Free Huey” movement which helped Newton’s cause. The case was eventually dismissed after two retrials ended with a hung jury. Newton was greeted by thousands who came to show support outside of the prison.

The Black Panther Party has been as a controversial organization known for their ideas on black power and use of violence. However, they created programs that provided children free breakfast and medical care. They have remained as an important part of history from the civil rights movement. The organization was formed in October 1966 by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale in California. They formed a ten-point program to bring full equality for African Americans in trials, employment, military, etc.

What comes to mind when you think of the Black Panther Party? Do you even know who the Black Panthers really were? They helped transform the lives of many African Americans in the U.S and helped empower the community. The Black Panther has a huge background of history, goals, and beliefs. Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale from Oakland, California founded the Panthers in 1966. Initially, they were an African American self defense force and were highly influenced by Malcolm X’s beliefs. The Panthers had many goals such as;freedom, protecting blacks from police brutality, and helping African Americans obtain a jobs. Despite the negative stereotypes of the Black Panthers as people who ran around with guns, fighting police, they were a major group during the Civil Rights Movement because they practiced self defense, established revolutionary socialism, and stimulated Malcolm X's influence. In the following I will discuss the successful changes the Black Panther Party, had on the African American community during the civil rights movement.