Rise of the Black Panther Party - founded in 1966
In late October 1966, Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale founded the Black Panther Party (originally the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense). In formulating a new politics, they drew on their experiences working with a variety of Black Power organizations. Newton and Seale first met in 1962 when they were both students at Merritt College.
The Black Panther Party was initially organized in response to police brutality and the deplorable economic and social conditions in Black communities throughout the United States. In a relatively short period of time the Party grew to systematically link and encompass the related issues of U.S. imperialistic wars abroad and corporate hegemony at home. Strong and active political alliances were also made between the Black Panther Party and other progressive and radical organizations ofall colors around mutual concerns that affected everyday poor and disenfranchised people---no matter what their gender or color.
They developed a revolutionary anti-imperialist perspective working with more active and militant groups like the Soul Students Advisory Council and the Revolutionary Action Movement. While bringing in a paycheck, jobs running youth service programs at the North Oakland Neighborhood Anti-Poverty Center allowed them to develop a revolutionary nationalist approach to community service, later a key element in the Black Panther Party’s “community survival programs.”
Newton had an epiphany that would distinguish the Black Panther Party from the multitude of organizations seeking to build Black Power. Newton saw the explosive rebellious anger of the ghetto as a force, and believed that if he could stand up to the police, he organized that force into political power.
Newton and Seale decided to adopt the Black Panther logo and form their own organization called the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. Newton and Seale decided on a uniform of blue shirts, black pants, black leather jackets, black berets. Sixteen-year-old Bobby Hutton was their first recruit.
The Black Panther Party was initially organized in response to police brutality and the deplorable economic and social conditions in Black communities throughout the United States. In a relatively short period of time the Party grew to systematically link and encompass the related issues of U.S. imperialistic wars abroad and corporate hegemony at home. Strong and active political alliances were also made between the Black Panther Party and other progressive and radical organizations ofall colors around mutual concerns that affected everyday poor and disenfranchised people---no matter what their gender or color.
The Black Panther Party was initially organized in response to police brutality and the deplorable economic and social conditions in Black communities throughout the United States. In a relatively short period of time the Party grew to systematically link and encompass the related issues of U.S. imperialistic wars abroad and corporate hegemony at home. Strong and active political alliances were also made between the Black Panther Party and other progressive and radical organizations ofall colors around mutual concerns that affected everyday poor and disenfranchised people---no matter what their gender or color.
They developed a revolutionary anti-imperialist perspective working with more active and militant groups like the Soul Students Advisory Council and the Revolutionary Action Movement. While bringing in a paycheck, jobs running youth service programs at the North Oakland Neighborhood Anti-Poverty Center allowed them to develop a revolutionary nationalist approach to community service, later a key element in the Black Panther Party’s “community survival programs.”
Newton had an epiphany that would distinguish the Black Panther Party from the multitude of organizations seeking to build Black Power. Newton saw the explosive rebellious anger of the ghetto as a force, and believed that if he could stand up to the police, he organized that force into political power.
Newton and Seale decided to adopt the Black Panther logo and form their own organization called the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. Newton and Seale decided on a uniform of blue shirts, black pants, black leather jackets, black berets. Sixteen-year-old Bobby Hutton was their first recruit.
The Black Panther Party was initially organized in response to police brutality and the deplorable economic and social conditions in Black communities throughout the United States. In a relatively short period of time the Party grew to systematically link and encompass the related issues of U.S. imperialistic wars abroad and corporate hegemony at home. Strong and active political alliances were also made between the Black Panther Party and other progressive and radical organizations ofall colors around mutual concerns that affected everyday poor and disenfranchised people---no matter what their gender or color.