Black Panther Party Flashcards
When was the BPP established? Outline its inspirations and arguments
Huey Newton and Bobby Seale established the Black Panther Party for Self Defence in Oakland, California, on 15 Oct 1966. Inspired by Malcolm X and promoted black nationalism and economic independence. Argued police occupied ghettoes like soldiers in Vietnam. Wore black beret, leather jacket, blue shirt, and slogan was ‘off the pigs!’
What was the 10 Point Program?
15 Oct 1966, Ten Point program, first point called for education on black heritage, point three for end of police brutality, point five for full employment, point nine for release of black people held in prisons and right to fair trial. Magazine Black Panther discussed racist US justice system.
What was the BPPs inspirations?
Inspirations – 1961 Frantz Fanon’s The Wretched of the Earth concerning black struggle against colonialism in Third World. Mao Zedong removed white oppressors in China, called to refuse fighting in Vietnam, inspired by Karl Marx’s working class revolution approach.
What was Patrol the Pigs and its results?
Patrol the Pigs: Oakland, California, police under surveillance with Black Panther patrols observing police incidents. Huey Newton had law book in car to educate black citizens on rights. Spread to Berkeley and Richmond. Californian government tried to ban patrols leading to increased media attention from BPP, 1967 35 branches across 15 states, Newton arrested on murder charges with Free Huey campaign gaining publicity, release of Huey in 1970.
What resulted from Huey’s arrest?
Results of Huey’s arrest: shift in leadership and survival programmes funded by AA celebrities and businessmen such as comedian Richard Pryor and Jimi Hendrix. 1969 Free Breakfast for School Children Programme fed 10,000 children each day starting at St Augustine’s Church, Oakland. Health clinics set for sickle cell disease testing and emergency healthcare/contraception inspired women and Hispanics to set similar. 1974 200 free clinics supporting 200,000.
What were liberation schools?
Liberation schools established with Oakland Community School the first set up. Ran in churches/homes to empower African Americans by teaching them about struggles, actions or past achievements at odds with conventional ideas. Extended to children and young.
By 1968 how large was membership?
By 1968 BPP had branches across LA, Seattle, Denver, Chicago, Washington etc. Only 5000 members but membership had circulation of 250,000 and readership of a million. Black GIs gave 70% approval to Newton, Seale, Elridge Cleaver.
What was found out about the FBI?
COINTELPRO found FBI believed black messiah would unite radical black groups in revolution against the US government so they justified forging letters to the government, phone-tapping, and infiltration causing BPP legal fees.
Why were Newton and Cleaver divided?
Leaders divided as Newton wanted to focus on survival programs but Cleaver wanted militancy. Women focused on health and education and disliked Cleaver’s convicted rapist status.
How did alliance with SNCC change?
Newton was Minister of Defence, Seale was Central Committee Chairman, and Elridge Cleaver was Minister of Information. Allied with SNCC in February 1968 with Stokely Carmichael President. July 1969 they separated from the party as SNCC wanted black nationalism while BPP wanted to represent multiracial class struggle. By 1970 most leaders arrested or left party, Elridge Cleaver in exile.
Why did the BPP fail?
Poor definition and organisation with differing aims, unrealistic goals with violence aggravating federal government and socialism unrealistic in capitalist US, women didn’t support movement due to sexism, when SNCC and CORE rejected white members they lost funding with SNCC reduced to three cities by 1970 and breaking up in December 1973,
What did the BPP promote? which figures used the BP salute? Which convention excluded whites?
Weapons were carried openly and defence groups formed against police brutality. In 1968 two AA athletes used the Black Panther salute in the Olympics and the 1967 Black Power convention excluded whites. They demanded economic equality, an end to capitalist exploitation, compensation in land and housing, and separate juries for black people and protection from police intimidation.
