The Black Panthers

Aims: Examine the beliefs and activities of the Black Panthers

Background Within a few years the Civil Rights Movement had changed. New slogans such as ‘Burn baby burn’, ‘Black Power’ and ‘I’m Black and I’m Proud’ were heard across the nations. The media started to focus on more extreme Black leaders instead of those who believed in non-violence. In 1966 a new violent protest group was started. It was called the Black Panther Party.

Who Were the Black Panthers? This group was started in 1966 by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale in California. They choose the name ‘Black Panther’ because the Panther is a strong fighter when corned. They argued Black Americans had been ‘cornered’ by white aggression for a long time and now it was time to defend Black Americans. They became very popular among young Black Americans and by 1968 a branch of the Black Panthers existed in most US cities.

What Did They Believe In? The Black Panthers were known for wearing a uniform of black leather jacket, trousers, black beret and for carrying guns. They supported the use of violence to force change. They received a great deal of negative coverage in the press. They wanted to protect Black communities against White violence. They had a ten point programme and they wanted better housing and education for Black Americans.

However the Black Panthers not only talked about ‘serving the people’, they also tried to improve life in the ghettos. They organised community programmes such as free breakfasts for poor children, free health clinics and also campaigned to stop drug use and crime in poor areas. The government was very suspicious of the group. Police departments made regular raids on Panther offices and gun battles broke out. The Panthers were certainly involved in many violent shoot outs across America in the 1960s. The FBI spied on Black Panther leaders, tried to disrupt their meetings and make the organisation look bad.

How Important Were They? ‘ The Panthers were the most violent group to emerge in the late 1960s but by 1969, 27 Panthers were dead and over 700 were in prison. By 1970 the worst was over. The more violent of the Black leaders were either dead or in prison. Many Black Americans realised that all the riots did was to destroy Black property and kill Black people.’ The Black Panthers lost its influence when quarrels among its leader broke out. By the middle of the 1970s the Black Panther party no longer existed. It is important to remember that although many Americans supported the ideas of Black Power, only a small number were prepared to use the violence.