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The Black Panther Party: Methods - Coggle Diagram
The Black Panther Party: Methods
The Patrol the Pigs Campaign
This encouraged self-defence of the black people in America at the time. Its aim was to get rid of the white racist police force and apply black power and independence
Members of the BPP patrolled black neighbourhoods and questioned any arrests made by the white police, this reinforces Newton and Seals message of black freedom and equality under the 3rd 10 point programme aim
Members of the BPP would wear black leather jackets, berets and blue shirts, to commit to the survival programmes without shame. For many police officiers and government officials, the uniform held a significant amount of threat and intimidation.
The Patrol to the Pigs campaign gained a lot of media attention and in 1967 managed to set up 35 local groups in 15 states encouraging the 10 point programme, this helped those in the ghettos, as it gave equality and justice to those wrongly accused of a crime .
In 1968 the BPP encouraged economic and social improvements e.g. in jobs, education and health. This programme showed community self-help in the ghettos.
Another one of the survival programmes the Black Panther Party adopted was number 2 of the 10 point programme which gave free health checks people .It also helped to enforce treatment for sickle cell anaemia - a common illness amongst black people. This programme helped people in the ghettos in regards to being able to receive treatment for any health conditions, which they were diagnosed with by the bpp medics. Something which was previously difficult amongst many white clinics.
Their were many celebrities whom of which funded these programmes, such as Jimmie Hendrix and James brown, this helped those in the ghettos, as they were inspired by their devotion of the BPP and started to follow their aims too, in black nationalism.
Many of the arrests made by the white police were illigitimate; simply victimising citizens based on the colour of their skin. The Black Panther Party were hugely distrusting of the American legal system - which is why the 10 point programme contained a clause demanding the release of all black prisoners. After all, who was really guilty?
Survival Programmes
Newton and Seale drew on Marxist ideology for the party platform. They outlined the organization’s philosophical views and political objectives in a Ten-Point Program.
The Ten-Point Program called for an immediate end to police brutality; employment for African Americans; and land, housing and justice for all.
The Black Panthers were part of the larger Black Power movement, which emphasized Black pride, community control and unification for civil rights.
While the Black Panthers were often portrayed as a gang, their leadership saw the organization as a political party whose goal was getting more African Americans elected to political office. They were unsuccessful on this front. By the early 1970s, FBI counterintelligence efforts, criminal activities and an internal rift between group members weakened the party as a political force.
The Black Panthers did, however, start a number of popular community social programs, including free breakfast programs for school children and free health clinics in 13 African American communities across the United States.
Violent Action
The Black Panthers were involved in numerous violent encounters with police. In 1967, founder Huey Newton allegedly killed Oakland police officer John Frey. Newton was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in 1968 and was sentenced to two to 15 years in prison. An appellate court decision later reversed the conviction.
Eldridge Cleaver, editor of the Black Panther’s newspaper, and 17-year old Black Panther member and treasurer Bobby Hutton, were involved in a shootout with police in 1968 that left Hutton dead and two police officers wounded.
Conflicts within the party often turned violent too. In 1969, Black Panther Party member Alex Rackley was tortured and murdered by other Black Panthers who thought he was a police informant.
Black Panther bookkeeper Betty Van Patter was found beaten and murdered in 1974. No one was charged with the death, though many believed that party leadership was responsible.
Liberation Schools
Liberation schools enforced the 1st point under 10 point plan
It taught black people of their culture, which made the people in the ghettos, feel pride and respect in them
The Black Panther Party helped create a sense of identity for the black community
It also encouraged black home-schooling, which was better for those with limited opportunities within the ghettos
Free Breakfast Campaign
One of the first survival programmes set up was the Free Breakfast Campaign for local children
In 1969 10,000 children were fed everyday, tackling a huge aspect of poverty within the Northern ghettos
The programme, funded by Black celebrities such as Jimmy Hendrix and James Brown, was not only successful in achieving improved social conditions, it was also an admirable move for the BPP - helping increase the following and media attention