The Black Panther Party for Self Defence (BPP) was formed in 1966 in Oakland, California by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale. The BPP was a militant defence group to protect minorities from the U.S. government through community programs. They were working for economic, social and political equality for all genders and races.
Many of the ideas and practices of Malcolm X were rooted deeply in the foundations of the BPP. He was simultaneously a role model to live up to in how he conducted himself and affected communities by providing social services across all races and genders, but he was also willing to fight for his people and for what he believed was right.
On April 25th, 1967 the first issue of “The Black Panther” was distributed nationally, a zine/newsletter containing the works of Black Panthers and others. In May the members of the BPP marched in Sacramento (the capital of California) to protest the newly passed law banning firearms from being carried in public. During this protest Bobby Seale gave a speech that got him and 30 other panthers arrested. This display inspired people across the nation to start local BPP chapters.
In October of 1967 Huey Newton, the Defence Minister of the BPP was arrested for the murder of an Oakland cop. This spured the “Free Huey” movement among the Panthers which was an issue on their agenda for the coming years. At this time the BPP began to form coalitions with other revolutionary parties of that time. This causes conflict within the party, specifically because Stokely Carmichael, the new Prime Minister of the party and a former chairman of the SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) was against allowing white people into the BPP. He strongly believed that not only could a white person never understand the plight of black people but that white people intimidate African Americans and therefore take them out of their power. This was controversial for the party.
In the summer of 1969 the alliance between the SNCC and the BPP began to deteriorate in part due to the argument of allowing white support. The dispute climaxed into an open gunfight at the University of California, Las Angeles which ended with the death of two Black Panthers.
On November 24th of 1968 Kathleen and Eldridge Cleaver fled the U.S. After visiting Cuba and Paris they settle in Algeria where they remained for the next couple of years. In 1969 Bobby Seale was indicted for protesting the Democratic National Convention the previous year. He was denied his right to choose his own defense attorney. He stood several times during trial to protest this and was bound and gagged. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment on 16 counts of contempt. The following year, while still in prison Bobby published Seize the Time, a book about the BPP and Huey Newton in particular.
The BPP during this time made no effort to separate their legal and illegal activities and was attacked by the legal system on all sides because of this. Upon his release, Huey prioritized civil services to black impoverished communities. He started up free breakfasts for children, established free medical clinics, provided free clothing and food and helped homeless find housing.
In 1970 the FBI began to plant factionalism in the BPP, mainly by forging letters between panthers. They mostly targeted Eldridge Cleaver who was isolated from the actual activities of the BPP while in Algiers. The messages that they sent cleaver were basically that members in the BPP were trying to push him out of power. He also received dozens of letters from supposed members criticizing Newtons leadership and encouraging Cleaver to take control. It all fell apart on live television when Newton was a guest on a talk show while Cleaver was on speakerphone. Cleaver expressed his disdain for how the party had become and claimed that the breakfast club was reformist. Cleaver was immediately expelled from the Central Committee. He then founded the Black Liberation Army.
Huey Newton, now disillusioned by seeing the BPP tear itself apart, resigned from the party. He became heavily dependant on cocaine along with other hard drugs. It is debated whether or not these drugs were planted by the FBI.
On August 22nd, 1989 Huey was shot and killed in a drug dispute in Oakland. Bobby Seale resigned from the party. Elaine Brown maintained some of the civil services of the BPP during the 80’s. By the mid 80’s the party had completely degraded itself and was dissolved. Many remaining panthers were hunted down and killed in the following years. Others were incarcerated or fled the U.S.
Many of the ideas and practices of Malcolm X were rooted deeply in the foundations of the BPP. He was simultaneously a role model to live up to in how he conducted himself and affected communities by providing social services across all races and genders, but he was also willing to fight for his people and for what he believed was right.
On April 25th, 1967 the first issue of “The Black Panther” was distributed nationally, a zine/newsletter containing the works of Black Panthers and others. In May the members of the BPP marched in Sacramento (the capital of California) to protest the newly passed law banning firearms from being carried in public. During this protest Bobby Seale gave a speech that got him and 30 other panthers arrested. This display inspired people across the nation to start local BPP chapters.
In October of 1967 Huey Newton, the Defence Minister of the BPP was arrested for the murder of an Oakland cop. This spured the “Free Huey” movement among the Panthers which was an issue on their agenda for the coming years. At this time the BPP began to form coalitions with other revolutionary parties of that time. This causes conflict within the party, specifically because Stokely Carmichael, the new Prime Minister of the party and a former chairman of the SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) was against allowing white people into the BPP. He strongly believed that not only could a white person never understand the plight of black people but that white people intimidate African Americans and therefore take them out of their power. This was controversial for the party.
In the summer of 1969 the alliance between the SNCC and the BPP began to deteriorate in part due to the argument of allowing white support. The dispute climaxed into an open gunfight at the University of California, Las Angeles which ended with the death of two Black Panthers.
On November 24th of 1968 Kathleen and Eldridge Cleaver fled the U.S. After visiting Cuba and Paris they settle in Algeria where they remained for the next couple of years. In 1969 Bobby Seale was indicted for protesting the Democratic National Convention the previous year. He was denied his right to choose his own defense attorney. He stood several times during trial to protest this and was bound and gagged. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment on 16 counts of contempt. The following year, while still in prison Bobby published Seize the Time, a book about the BPP and Huey Newton in particular.
The BPP during this time made no effort to separate their legal and illegal activities and was attacked by the legal system on all sides because of this. Upon his release, Huey prioritized civil services to black impoverished communities. He started up free breakfasts for children, established free medical clinics, provided free clothing and food and helped homeless find housing.
In 1970 the FBI began to plant factionalism in the BPP, mainly by forging letters between panthers. They mostly targeted Eldridge Cleaver who was isolated from the actual activities of the BPP while in Algiers. The messages that they sent cleaver were basically that members in the BPP were trying to push him out of power. He also received dozens of letters from supposed members criticizing Newtons leadership and encouraging Cleaver to take control. It all fell apart on live television when Newton was a guest on a talk show while Cleaver was on speakerphone. Cleaver expressed his disdain for how the party had become and claimed that the breakfast club was reformist. Cleaver was immediately expelled from the Central Committee. He then founded the Black Liberation Army.
Huey Newton, now disillusioned by seeing the BPP tear itself apart, resigned from the party. He became heavily dependant on cocaine along with other hard drugs. It is debated whether or not these drugs were planted by the FBI.
On August 22nd, 1989 Huey was shot and killed in a drug dispute in Oakland. Bobby Seale resigned from the party. Elaine Brown maintained some of the civil services of the BPP during the 80’s. By the mid 80’s the party had completely degraded itself and was dissolved. Many remaining panthers were hunted down and killed in the following years. Others were incarcerated or fled the U.S.