Black Panther Party

Above: Original six members of the Black Panther Party in November, 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 Panther Party was active from 1966 to 1982.
• The New Black Panther Party formed in 1989. Members of the original Black Panther Party view the new party as a "Hate group", have claimed it is illegitimate, and have stated "there is no new Black Panther Party"

above: old Black panther party logo and the new black panther party logo below.

• Originally named "Black Panther Party for self defense"
• Categorized as an " African-American revolutionary leftist organization"

Above: from left to right: Big man, Don Cox, June Hilliard. Outside the national black panthers headquaters

Above: Stokely Carmichael later changed to Kwame Ture. In 1967, the party marched on the California state capitol protesting the state's attempt to illegalize carrying a loaded weapon in public.

• The 1960's and 70's gave the BPP national and international fame due to their involvement in the Black Power movement and U.S. politics movement
• The anti-racism movement of that time period is considered one of the most significant Political, social and cultural events in U.S. history

Above: Huey Newtons trial, 2nd day, members of the Black Panther Party posing outside the court building, July 16,1968

Above: Female Member of the Black Panther Party saluting

• The BPP was founded in 1966 on October 15th by Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton
• The group created a Doctrine to protect African American neighborhoods from police brutality
• They originally accepted a wide and divers racial membership

Above: a Newspaper that was published showing Huey P. Newton with the slogan "Minister of defense of the Black Panther Party and supreme servant of the people"

• The group published a newspaper called "the Black Panther" started in 1967

Above: Huey Newton art posing with shotgun and sword. His most famous photograph

• The party became a counter culture icon in the 60's
• The black panther party condemned "Black Nationalism" as "Black racism" and turned their focus to socialism without racial exclusivity

Above: The FBI formed a task force named COINTELPRO specifically created to tarnish the reputation and essentially "Neutralize" The Black Panther Party and groups they called "Black Nationalist hate groups". The above document outlines the FBI's plans to tarnish the reputation of a strong female BPP member named Jean Seberg. Many such operations where carried out.

• The Black Panther Party had a strong community presence where they aimed to reduce poverty, improve health and soften their image in the public eye despite a constant effort from the police and government trying to besmirch them

Above: BPP released a pamphlet about anti - drug use and also political revolution messages

• J. Edgar Hoover once called the BPP "the greatest threat to the internal security of the country".
• He also Spearheaded the program COINTELPRO who's main goal wa to incriminate party members, undermine their leadership and help in the community and take away all the resources and man power they could.

Above: Black power advocates 1968 picture

• In 1969 Black Panther Party members reached 10,000 but numbers soon fell and never reached that high peak again.
• By 1980 the Black Panther Party consisted of only 27 members due to declined support

Above: Black-Panther-Party-armed guards in street Colt 45 and a shotgun

Above: black panther sisters

• Another similar Black power group was present during this time known as the "Revolutionary Action Movement" or RAM.
• RAM had a chapter in Oakland and followed the principles of Robert F. Williams

Above: the BPP swarmed by reporters during a speech

Above: Black Panther Party co-founder Bobby Seale having breakfast

Above: Black Panther convention, Lincoln Memorial June 19, 1970

Above: Big Man Elbert Howard Black Panther Party founding member oakland 1968

Above: 40th reunion meeting in Oakland CA in 2006

Above: In 2008 the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights released a report stating the new and current Black Panther Party was intimidating voters with public demonstrations and recruiting.

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