Welcome to ..... the website devoted to the Black Panthers!
Intro:
The Black Panthers were a party based on Self-Defense. The party was established in October of 1966.The two members who founded the Black Panthers were : Huey Newton & Bobby Seale. The origin of the Black Panthers was Oakland, California. In the beginning the group consisted of six original members who are in the photo at the bottom. The Black Panthers were more like a military in its own. The party were determined to fight against the government concerning minority races in the United States of America. The party also struggled for working emancipation. Their tasks were to established real social, and political equality throughout gender ( male and female) and the colour of ones skin.
In the above photo are the original six Black Panther members, this photo was taken in November of 1966.Top left to right: Elbert "Big Man" Howard; Huey P. Newton (Defense Minister), Sherman Forte, Bobby Seale (Chairman). Bottom: Reggie Forte and Little Bobby Hutton (Treasurer).
The Black Panthers theory:
The Black Panthers were a more violent party. Their concept on how to gain equality for ethnic minority groups were not the smartest , and in certain situations that lead them into a lot of problems. They followed behind one of civil rights legendary leaders, Malcolm X. See in both of these situations with the Black Panthers and Malcolm X , violent were in a way which they though would help to solve the problem of racism and discrimination. Malcolm followed behind the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm's beliefs were deeply rooted in the Black Panthers theoretical foundations. Since Malcolm believed in international working class unity across the spectrum of race and gender ( female and/or male). They even united with other various minority and white revolutionary groups. They wanted the best for the minority and would take any actions in doing so.
In the above photo is Malcolm X giving a speech in between the years 1948 & 1964. As you can see his approach were rather aggressive and vulgar.
Background Panther History:
-The first issue of The Black Panther, the party's official news organ, goes into distribution. This happened on April 25, 1967.
- After their first issue was out to the public , the party decided to protest the states ( California) attempt to outlaw carrying loaded weapons in public.
-The Panthers were a rather violent group in 1967 , the police arrest the Defense Minister of the Panthers, Huey Newton, for killing an Oakland cop ( October).
- Panther Eldridge Cleaver, and other members of the Black Panther party, started to protest about "" freeing Huey"". The party devoted many years to this cause.
- Stokely Carmichael, the former
chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and a
nationally known proponent of Black Power, is recruited into the party through
this struggle, and soon becomes the party's Prime Minister in February,
1968. ( The photo on the right hand side is of Carmichael)
-On April 6, 1968, in West Oakland, Bobby Hutton, 17 years old, is shot dead by Oakland police. There was a gun battle that lasted for 90 minutes long. The only problem was that Hutton was unarmed and he was shot ten times. Hutton's house was set on fire and that's why he was forced to evacuate his home, and then be killed. Prior to this incident Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated , because he was re-thinking his doctrines ( April 4, 1968).
- Noticing the incidents happening President Kennedy recognized in the minority community as one of the only politicians in the US "sympathetic" to the civil rights movement, is also assassinated.
In the photo on the right hand side is of Bobby Hutton.>
In the above photo King announces that he would not be a candidate for the president of the United States. This photo was taken on April 25, 1967.
In In the photo on the left hand side is a picture
of Robert Kennedy, which was also assassinated on June 5th, 1968. On April
3rd,1968 Robert F. Kennedy stated this quote:" We've had difficult times in
the past. We will have difficult times in the future. It is not the end of
violence; it is not the end of lawlessness; it is not the end of disorder."
The Pledge for Black Children from the Black Panther's point of view:
I pledge allegiance to my Black People.
I pledge to develop my mind and body to the greatest extent possible.
I will learn all that I can in order to give my best to my People in their
struggle for liberation.
I will keep myself physically fit, building a strong body free from drugs and
other substances which weaken me and make me less capable of protecting myself,
my family and my Black brothers and sisters.
I will unselfishly share my knowledge and understanding with them in order to
bring about change more quickly.
I will discipline myself to direct my energies thoughtfully and constructively
rather than wasting them in idle hatred.
I will train myself never to hurt or allow others to harm my Black brothers and
sisters for I recognize that we need every Black Man, Woman, and Child to be
physically, mentally and psychologically strong.
These principles I pledge to practice daily and to teach them to others in order
to unite my People.
The Black Panther, October 26, 1968
by Shirley Williams
Personal Opinion of The Black Panther's:
In my own opinion I honestly think that the Black Panther's had great intentions to provide African Americans with a better life in the United States of America, but their approach was so negative and in many ways forced them into unbearable situations with which that had to use violence. In all things you may want or need to do in life, you must remember that there are always positive and negative outcomes. The Black Panthers, had a so many intelligent leaders in their party, which could've changed a lot of the racism and discrimination with the minorities in the United States. Their idea , and their outcomes may have been very different if they hadn't use violence. In any approach in life you should always try to come across with a positive approach and always show appreciation.