By: Serena Edwards
During the 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement was transformative.
From notable figures like Malcom X, Shirley Chisholm, and John Lewis, there was a sense of activism and speaking against racist regimes. Among many of the notable greats, a group that is often forgotten is the Black Panther Party (BPP).
The BPP challenged the government and stood on the foundation of their constitutional rights and unity among all demographics. Looking at today’s divisiveness within the United States (U.S.), the fearless behavior of the Black Panther Party burns deeply within us now more than ever.
The Black Panther Party was a political party based on the mission of uniting diverse communities and educating and providing back to communities. The organization was founded in 1966 in Oakland, California, by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale. The BPP was known for its impact in the community through free programs and challenging the government on its division tactics.
Many people know the Black Panther Party for their outspoken use of the 2nd amendment, but they were more than that. The BPP held over 60 free programs to assist the community, such as free breakfast and afterschool programs, as well as the sickle cell health clinic, which provided free services to help lift some burdens off low-income families. For something that promoted so much unity and service, the government skewed the narrative to paint them as domestic terrorists. Even going as far as personally targeting chapter presidents and arresting members for minor infractions. This played a huge part in the party ultimately being dismantled in 1982.
The BPP has faced many obstacles in having its legacy displayed properly. From having their digital history toppled after a current-day search of the term “Black Panther” results in the mainstream Marvel movie, to even being surveilled when the group was alive by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Counter-Intelligence program (COINTELPRO), their destiny seemed dim.
COINTELPRO was a program designed by the FBI to “disrupt the activities of the Communist Party of the United States. In the 1960s, it was expanded to include a number of other domestic groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan, the Socialist Workers Party, and the Black Panther Party,” according to the FBI.
Protests have been spreading around the nation against the brutal tactics of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). We have, on multiple occasions, seen the government many times utilize weapons against the same citizens they are supposed to protect and provide for. We have the 2nd Amendment to our advantage in cases where we feel like the government is turned against us and in many circumstances of self-defense.
According to the United States Congress, the 2nd amendment states, “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
For further understanding, this means that we can obtain and carry a weapon for our protection against the government.
The BPP used the 2nd Amendment to prove to the government and racist organizations that they have rights too.
Founder of the BPP, Newton once said, “Sometimes, if you want to get rid of the gun, you have to pick the gun up.”
But more importantly, the principles of the BPP reflected the importance of unity within other marginalized and oppressed communities through their community outreach.
But the legacy still lives on through the protests and actions we see today. When many marginalized groups band together, the government has no other option but to change. When we start to realize that it is less about the color of our skin and more about the similarities in struggles we all face, we become a united front that can not be broken.
Notable members of the BPP, such as Fred Hampton, also exemplify what it means to come together as a community. Hampton used public speaking and personable skills to talk to groups that were once divided due to the government’s use of division tactics. However, through communication and understanding, there was a wide spread of banding together for equity.
As we look at the state of the world today, we must look back at the patterns that are now repeating and follow the steps of our notable change makers. There is power in numbers.
The Black Panther Party may have been dismantled in the 80’s, but their fire burns bright through the actions of people who live today.