The Black Panther Party for Self-defense was founded in October 1966, by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale, black militants from Oakland, California. It was formed on the issues of a ten-point program calling for black power, full employment, "the overdue debt of forty acres and two mules," decent housing, education that "teaches our true history," black exemption from military service, an end to police brutality, freedom for all black prisoners, trials with "peer group" juries, and a UN plebiscite "throughout the black colony" for determining the "will of the black peoples as to their national destiny." Most of America was falsely convinced by the media that the Black Panthers were at war with the whole white power structure. Their militancy towards the police was a defensive action against the abuse, that this arm of the government's army, committed against them. As they explained "It is not in the panther's nature to attack anyone first, but when he is attacked and backed into a corner, he will respond viciously and wipe out the aggressor."
Newton and Seale were influenced by the teachings of Malcolm X, and the work of the late Martinique psychiatrist Frantz Fanon, author of The Wretched of the Earth (1965). As students at Merrit College, in Oakland, they had organized a Soul Students' Advisory Council, which was the first group to demand that what became known as African-American studies be included in the school curriculum. They parted ways with the council when their proposal to bring a drilled and
armed squad of ghetto youths onto campus, in commemoration of Malcolm X's birthday, the year after his assassination, was rejected. The founding of the Black Panther Party was heavily supported by the African American community and chapters opened throughout the country. Eldridge Cleaver, author of Soul on Ice (1968), joined the party in February1967. Cleaver became an important organizer for the Panthers, and took over the party's direction when Seale was later
arrested for armed invasion of the state assembly chamber in Sacremento and Newton was jailed for, the later dropped charge, of murdering Officer John Frey of Oakland. Cleaver organized Newton's defense until he was forced to flee to Cuba in 1968. In alliance with the Peace and Freedom Party the Black Panther Party put up candidates in both the national and California state elections of 1968. Eldridge Cleaver was made the coalition's presidential candidate.
The Black Panthers felt that armed struggle was the only way to resist their oppression. They drew a lot of attention from the media, and wrath from the police and FBI, by carrying loaded firearms in public, then legal in California, at all times. This symbolic and legal act was taken by racist police officers as a threat. Instead of being seen as a militant yet productive organization, which supported its community through services such as free meal programs and educational classes, it
was attacked as an aggressive subversive force to the American way of life. Tensions mounted between the Panthers and police, and eventually escalated into a 1968 shootout in Oakland. Newton later made the statement that "every time you go execute a white racist Gestapo cop, you are defending yourself." Cleaver more aggresively responded: "A black pig, a white pig, a yellow pig, a pink pig- a dead pig is the best pig of all. We encourage people to kill them." The FBI operation COINTELPRO destroyed the Panthers, in time, with a string of arrests, murders and
forced exiles.
Before their demise the Black Panthers were able to make a huge impact on America, both physically and inspirationally. They brought attention to the problems of the African-American community in America, and the issue of police brutality, at the time of the large urban riots of 1968, and Martin Luther King's assassination. Their free breakfast program provided meals to 200,000 children daily. Most amazingly they proved that grassroots movements can make a difference, even when the US government resists against it.
The Black Panther Ten-Point Program
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that, whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and, accordingly, all experience hath shown that mankind are most disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But, when a long train of abuses and usurpation, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.
Newton and Seale were influenced by the teachings of Malcolm X, and the work of the late Martinique psychiatrist Frantz Fanon, author of The Wretched of the Earth (1965). As students at Merrit College, in Oakland, they had organized a Soul Students' Advisory Council, which was the first group to demand that what became known as African-American studies be included in the school curriculum. They parted ways with the council when their proposal to bring a drilled and
armed squad of ghetto youths onto campus, in commemoration of Malcolm X's birthday, the year after his assassination, was rejected. The founding of the Black Panther Party was heavily supported by the African American community and chapters opened throughout the country. Eldridge Cleaver, author of Soul on Ice (1968), joined the party in February1967. Cleaver became an important organizer for the Panthers, and took over the party's direction when Seale was later
arrested for armed invasion of the state assembly chamber in Sacremento and Newton was jailed for, the later dropped charge, of murdering Officer John Frey of Oakland. Cleaver organized Newton's defense until he was forced to flee to Cuba in 1968. In alliance with the Peace and Freedom Party the Black Panther Party put up candidates in both the national and California state elections of 1968. Eldridge Cleaver was made the coalition's presidential candidate.
The Black Panthers felt that armed struggle was the only way to resist their oppression. They drew a lot of attention from the media, and wrath from the police and FBI, by carrying loaded firearms in public, then legal in California, at all times. This symbolic and legal act was taken by racist police officers as a threat. Instead of being seen as a militant yet productive organization, which supported its community through services such as free meal programs and educational classes, it
was attacked as an aggressive subversive force to the American way of life. Tensions mounted between the Panthers and police, and eventually escalated into a 1968 shootout in Oakland. Newton later made the statement that "every time you go execute a white racist Gestapo cop, you are defending yourself." Cleaver more aggresively responded: "A black pig, a white pig, a yellow pig, a pink pig- a dead pig is the best pig of all. We encourage people to kill them." The FBI operation COINTELPRO destroyed the Panthers, in time, with a string of arrests, murders and
forced exiles.
Before their demise the Black Panthers were able to make a huge impact on America, both physically and inspirationally. They brought attention to the problems of the African-American community in America, and the issue of police brutality, at the time of the large urban riots of 1968, and Martin Luther King's assassination. Their free breakfast program provided meals to 200,000 children daily. Most amazingly they proved that grassroots movements can make a difference, even when the US government resists against it.
The Black Panther Ten-Point Program
- WE WANT FREEDOM. WE WANT POWER TO DETERMINE THE DESTINY OF OUR BLACK AND OPPRESSED COMMUNITIES.
We believe that Black and oppressed people will not be free until we are able to determine our destinies in our own communities ourselves, by fully controlling all the institutions which exist in our communities.
- WE WANT FULL EMPLOYMENT FOR OUR PEOPLE.
We believe that the federal government is responsible and obligated to give every person employment or a guaranteed income. We believe that if the American businessmen will not give full employment, then the technology and means of production should be taken from the businessmen and placed in the community so that the people of the community can organize and employ all of its people and give a high standard of living.
- WE WANT AN END TO THE ROBBERY BY THE CAPITALISTS OF OUR BLACK AND OPPRESSED COMMUNITIES.
We believe that this racist government has robbed us and now we are demanding the overdue debt of forty acres and two mules. Forty acres and two mules were promised 100 years ago as restitution for slave labor and mass murder of Black people. We will accept the payment in currency which will be distributed to our many communities. The American racist has taken part in the slaughter of our fifty million Black people. Therefore, we feel this is a modest demand that we make.
- WE WANT DECENT HOUSING, FIT FOR THE SHELTER OF HUMAN BEINGS.
We believe that if the landlords will not give decent housing to our Black and oppressed communities, then housing and the land should be made into cooperatives so that the people in our communities, with government aid, can build and make decent housing for the people.
- WE WANT DECENT EDUCATION FOR OUR PEOPLE THAT EXPOSES THE TRUE NATURE OF THIS DECADENT AMERICAN SOCIETY. WE WANT EDUCATION THAT TEACHES US OUR TRUE HISTORY AND OUR ROLE IN THE PRESENT-DAY SOCIETY.
We believe in an educational system that will give to our people a knowledge of the self. If you do not have knowledge of yourself and your position in the society and in the world, then you will have little chance to know anything else.
- WE WANT COMPLETELY FREE HEALTH CARE FOR All BLACK AND OPPRESSED PEOPLE.
We believe that the government must provide, free of charge, for the people, health facilities which will not only treat our illnesses, most of which have come about as a result of our oppression, but which will also develop preventive medical programs to guarantee our future survival. We believe that mass health education and research programs must be developed to give all Black and oppressed people access to advanced scientific and medical information, so we may provide our selves with proper medical attention and care.
- WE WANT AN IMMEDIATE END TO POLICE BRUTALITY AND MURDER OF BLACK PEOPLE, OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR, All OPPRESSED PEOPLE INSIDE THE UNITED STATES.
We believe that the racist and fascist government of the United States uses its domestic enforcement agencies to carry out its program of oppression against black people, other people of color and poor people inside the united States. We believe it is our right, therefore, to defend ourselves against such armed forces and that all Black and oppressed people should be armed for self defense of our homes and communities against these fascist police forces.
- WE WANT AN IMMEDIATE END TO ALL WARS OF AGGRESSION.
We believe that the various conflicts which exist around the world stem directly from the aggressive desire of the United States ruling circle and government to force its domination upon the oppressed people of the world. We believe that if the United States government or its lackeys do not cease these aggressive wars it is the right of the people to defend themselves by any means necessary against their aggressors.
- WE WANT FREEDOM FOR ALL BLACK AND OPPRESSED PEOPLE NOW HELD IN U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, CITY AND MILITARY PRISONS AND JAILS. WE WANT TRIALS BY A JURY OF PEERS FOR All PERSONS CHARGED WITH SO-CALLED CRIMES UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS COUNTRY.
We believe that the many Black and poor oppressed people now held in United States prisons and jails have not received fair and impartial trials under a racist and fascist judicial system and should be free from incarceration. We believe in the ultimate elimination of all wretched, inhuman penal institutions, because the masses of men and women imprisoned inside the United States or by the United States military are the victims of oppressive conditions which are the real cause of their imprisonment. We believe that when persons are brought to trial they must be guaranteed, by the United States, juries of their peers, attorneys of their choice and freedom from imprisonment while awaiting trial.
- WE WANT LAND, BREAD, HOUSING, EDUCATION, CLOTHING, JUSTICE, PEACE AND PEOPLE'S COMMUNITY CONTROL OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that, whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and, accordingly, all experience hath shown that mankind are most disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But, when a long train of abuses and usurpation, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.