[History] What was the Black Panther party all about?

[Theodarzna]

In October of 1966, in Oakland California, Huey Newton and Bobby Seale founded the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. The Panthers practiced militant self-defense of minority communities against the U.S. government, and fought to establish revolutionary socialism through mass organizing and community based programs. One core function of the party was early on that it would go around and follow Oakland police and whenever they stopped a black person they would stand at the then legal distance with loaded weapons and inform the arrested black person of their legal rights. However soon the Police Union managed to get a Republican state legislature to pass the first California Gun Control act to prevent the Panthers actions.

Notable for a lot of community activism and the FBI's fanatical dedication to trying to undermine them without any legal powers to do so via the illegal COINTELPRO initiatives, and for several notable deaths of panthers in odd confrontations, the party proves to continue to have a lasting legacy in American minds.

Here is the black Panther Parties 10 point platform, covering such ideas from better housing, local autonomy, retrial and fair trials for black people, ends to police brutality, ect.

Interview with some former members.


So, what do you all think of this notable piece of recent history? What were they really? What lasting impact have they had?

[TheramoreIsTheBomb]

Here we go.

-Grabs popcorn-

[Theodarzna]

Here we go.

-Grabs popcorn-

I have doused myself in flame retardant, but its been ages since I did a history thread.

[I Push Buttons]

I think the black power movement was pretty silly.

I get being pissed off at the system back then because it was indeed quite shit, especially if you were black, but outright rejecting capitalism and embracing Marxist Leninism at the height of the Cold War, in the United States, during a period of tumultuous race relations... That was just pretty stupid and just asking for trouble. A lot of its members go on and on about the government being out to get them back then... Well no shit, they were like two steps shy of being armed insurrectionists embracing the ideology of our (at the time) supposed mortal enemy.

I also find it quite ironic that two of the most influential icons of that movement, Huey P. Newton of the Black Panther Party and Malcolm X of the Nation of Islam were both assassinated by offshoots of their own organizations...

[THE Bigzoman]

I always liked their anti-government mentality.

After governments failed them for so long, they took it upon themselves to uplift their communities.

Somewhere along the lines, that mentality got lost.

[Theodarzna]

I always liked their anti-government mentality.

After governments failed them for so long, they took it upon themselves to uplift their communities.

Somewhere along the lines, that mentality got lost.

I attribute allot of that to its leaders being jailed early on, in the case of Huey Newton, it is kind of easy as he came from a much rockier background than Bobby Seale and tended towards the criminal in his later years.

[ArguesWithStrangers]

In October of 1966, in Oakland California, Huey Newton and Bobby Seale founded the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. The Panthers practiced militant self-defense of minority communities against the U.S. government, and fought to establish revolutionary socialism through mass organizing and community based programs. One core function of the party was early on that it would go around and follow Oakland police and whenever they stopped a black person they would stand at the then legal distance with loaded weapons and inform the arrested black person of their legal rights. However soon the Police Union managed to get a Republican state legislature to pass the first California Gun Control act to prevent the Panthers actions.

Notable for a lot of community activism and the FBI's fanatical dedication to trying to undermine them without any legal powers to do so via the illegal COINTELPRO initiatives, and for several notable deaths of panthers in odd confrontations, the party proves to continue to have a lasting legacy in American minds.

Here is the black Panther Parties 10 point platform, covering such ideas from better housing, local autonomy, retrial and fair trials for black people, ends to police brutality, ect.

Interview with some former members.


So, what do you all think of this notable piece of recent history? What were they really? What lasting impact have they had?

They are essentially the minority version of the white supremacist militias. They dress it up in marxism but I doubt they even have a complete grasp on what that means. They are just tribal hate-mongers. Nothing more to it really.

[Independent voter]

Democracy Now is to the left of Chairman Mao.

[Deleted]

I think the black power movement was pretty silly.

I get being pissed off at the system back then because it was indeed quite shit, especially if you were black, but outright rejecting capitalism and embracing Marxist Leninism at the height of the Cold War, in the United States, during a period of tumultuous race relations... That was just pretty stupid and just asking for trouble. A lot of its members go on and on about the government being out to get them back then... Well no shit, they were like two steps shy of being armed insurrectionists embracing the ideology of our (at the time) supposed mortal enemy.

I also find it quite ironic that two of the most influential icons of that movement, Huey P. Newton of the Black Panther Party and Malcolm X of the Nation of Islam were both assassinated by offshoots of their own organizations...

America is and was a democratic nation, shouldn't people have the right to reject the idea of capitalism and vote for a socialistic economic system?

[Theodarzna]

They are essentially the minority version of the white supremacist militias. They dress it up in marxism but I doubt they even have a complete grasp on what that means. They are just tribal hate-mongers. Nothing more to it really.

Were do you gather that opinion from?

- - - Updated - - -

America is and was a democratic nation, shouldn't people have the right to reject the idea of capitalism and vote for a socialistic economic system?

I think the black power movement was pretty silly.

I get being pissed off at the system back then because it was indeed quite shit, especially if you were black, but outright rejecting capitalism and embracing Marxist Leninism at the height of the Cold War, in the United States, during a period of tumultuous race relations... That was just pretty stupid and just asking for trouble. A lot of its members go on and on about the government being out to get them back then... Well no shit, they were like two steps shy of being armed insurrectionists embracing the ideology of our (at the time) supposed mortal enemy.

I also find it quite ironic that two of the most influential icons of that movement, Huey P. Newton of the Black Panther Party and Malcolm X of the Nation of Islam were both assassinated by offshoots of their own organizations...

I have to agree with you M-Ra, and to add, how could they exactly predict the actions of COINTELPRO? It was illegal and ostensibly we were a nation of laws, not of men. I mean yes, maybe they should have known, but at the same time the States actions violated their rights and were wholly illegal.

[I Push Buttons]

America is and was a democratic nation, shouldn't people have the right to reject the idea of capitalism and vote for a socialistic economic system?

Sure, this is a nation where supposedly majority rules...

These groups weren't even a majority among the black community though... Which itself is a mere fraction of the population.

[Theodarzna]

Sure, this is a nation where supposedly majority rules...

These groups weren't even a majority among the black community though... Which itself is a mere fraction of the population.

Well still, don't people have the right to assemble and exercise their rights? Originally they were acting well within the law, until of course the Mulford Gun Control act made their actions illegal, as a direct response to it. BUT, the point remains don't they have a right to do as they please without the government illegally trying to sabotage them?

[Deleted]

Sure, this is a nation where supposedly majority rules...

These groups weren't even a majority among the black community though... Which itself is a mere fraction of the population.

Yeah, but in a democracy minorities should have the same right to express their opinion and promote their Ideas, while being protected by the state.

[I Push Buttons]

Well still, don't people have the right to assemble and exercise their rights? Originally they were acting well within the law, until of course the Mulford Gun Control act made their actions illegal, as a direct response to it. BUT, the point remains don't they have a right to do as they please without the government illegally trying to sabotage them?

Sure, but that doesn't mean anyone has to listen...

Most of these groups were interspersed with black nationalism and some, like Malcolm X's ilk, with black supremacy...

Their words (the nationalists/supremacists) deserve about as much credence as the KKK and since some of the most outspoken leaders of these organizations fell into those categories, their message, however benevolent it may have been, was tainted...

[Independent voter]

The Mulford Act was a 1967 California bill which repealed a law allowing public carrying of loaded firearms. Named after Republican assemblyman Don Mulford, the bill was crafted in response to members of the Black Panther party conducting armed patrols of Oakland neighborhoods while conducting what would later be termed copwatching. They garnered national attention after the Black Panthers marched bearing arms upon the California State Capitol to protest the bill.[1][2]

Republicans in California supported increased gun control. California Governor Ronald Reagan was present when the protesters arrived and later commented that he saw “no reason why on the street today a citizen should be carrying loaded weapons.” and that guns were a “ridiculous way to solve problems that have to be solved among people of good will.” In a later press conference, Reagan added that the Mulford Act “would work no hardship on the honest citizen.” [3]

The bill was signed by Governor Ronald Reagan and became California penal code 25850 and 171c.

Panthers would protest police brutality and protest with loaded guns.

[Theodarzna]

The Mulford Act was a 1967 California bill which repealed a law allowing public carrying of loaded firearms. Named after Republican assemblyman Don Mulford, the bill was crafted in response to members of the Black Panther party conducting armed patrols of Oakland neighborhoods while conducting what would later be termed copwatching. They garnered national attention after the Black Panthers marched bearing arms upon the California State Capitol to protest the bill.[1][2]

Republicans in California supported increased gun control. California Governor Ronald Reagan was present when the protesters arrived and later commented that he saw “no reason why on the street today a citizen should be carrying loaded weapons.” and that guns were a “ridiculous way to solve problems that have to be solved among people of good will.” In a later press conference, Reagan added that the Mulford Act “would work no hardship on the honest citizen.” [3]

The bill was signed by Governor Ronald Reagan and became California penal code 25850 and 171c.

Panthers would protest police brutality and protest with loaded guns.

Their strategy was to stand the allowable distance brandishing their weapons and reading black people their rights and giving legal advice. Its similar to what activists did during the Watts riots but being unarmed they just got clubbed by the riot police.

Idk, isn't this an effective use of the Second Amendment?

[Schattenlied]

first California Gun Control act to prevent the Panthers actions.

Thanks for that, Black panthers, you were overzealous and got the ball rolling to fuck up gun laws for everyone in CA.

[Gheld]

^ That guy with the rifle looks like he is staring amorously at his own rifle.

[Independent voter]

^ That guy with the rifle looks like he is staring amorously at his own rifle.

I think that's Huey.

[I Push Buttons]

^ That guy with the rifle looks like he is staring amorously at his own rifle.

The M1 Carbine was a sexy gun, don't hate.