SUMMARY
- The Black Panther Party, founded in 1966, was a revolutionary organization created to defend Black communities against police brutality and advocate for Black self-determination.
- Led by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale, the party established over 65 social programs, including free breakfast for children, health clinics, and community education initiatives.
- The Black Panther Party was heavily targeted by the FBI’s COINTELPRO program, which aimed to disrupt and dismantle the organization.
- Internal issues, including ideological differences, sexism, and homophobia, weakened the party and contributed to its decline.
The Black Panther Party (originally the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense) was established in Oakland, California, in 1966 by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale. The party was active between 1966 and 1982 across the US, with a separate branch in Algeria created after tensions led to a split in the party. Although remembered in history as a militant, hypermasculine, and violent group of Black men, the party made real change through its work within Black communities, especially through its social programs.
How Was the Black Panther Party Founded?
Black unity was at the core of the party, with an emphasis, especially from Huey P. Newton, on Black self-determination. The Wretched of the Earth, written by Frantz Fanon, who argues for a violent struggle against oppressors, was regarded as essential reading for party members.
Newton, whose early years were shaped by police brutality and racial discrimination, and Bobby Seal founded the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (Black Panther Party for short) on October 15, 1966. Newton and Seal, both students at Merritt College (Oakland, California) at the time, were inspired in their decision by the 1965 assassination of Black activist Malcolm X and the socio-economic inequality Black Americans faced despite the 1960s civil rights legislation.
Newton and Seale wanted to develop a lifeline for the people by serving their needs and defending them from their oppressors- they viewed violence as an organizational tool and created programs that raised consciousness. Party members understood that personal safety, nourishment, and adequate healthcare were of great importance to maximize the potential of the Black community (Kirkby 2011, p. 33).
To facilitate this, Newton and Seale developed and organized the party around a Ten Point Program, which outlined points they believed were essential to change the system permanently. This included an end to police brutality, decent housing and education, and full employment.
By the end of 1968, the party had established around 38 chapters across the US and had become notorious for its violent rhetoric and the use of arms for defense.
How Did the Party Support Black Communities?
Although initially created as a defense against police brutality, the party was always more than just its violent reputation. Indeed, the Black Panther Party set up 65 social programs between 1966 and 1982, ranging from a Free Breakfast for Children Program (FBCP) to Free Health Clinics to a Free Busing to Prisons Program. These types of assistance were designed to improve areas that were lacking for many Black people, especially education, healthcare, and employment.
The FBCP was initiated in every chapter of the party. It fed thousands of children daily before school, educated them about Black history and culture, and informed them of current events (Kirkby 2011, p. 46). The party also tried to improve the voter registration numbers of Black people and included registration forms in food bags. Further to this, groundbreaking research was conducted on Sickle Cell Anemia, a disorder that affects African Americans, through organized screenings and blood sample tests carried out by the party.
The social programs were created not just to help the day-to-day needs of the Black community but also to educate, inform, and empower them. Seale described the objective of the programs as educating the masses about the politics of the changing system (Seale 1991, p. 413).
What Was Their Relationship With the FBI?
By 1968, the Black Panther Party was viewed as “the greatest threat to the internal security of the country,” and they began to receive attention from the FBI. The program COINTELPRO, directed by J. Edgar Hoover, turned its attention to Black nationalist groups, with the Los Angeles chapter one of the most affected.
The FBI was responsible for the deaths of two Panthers, Mark Clark and Fred Hampton. In 1969, Hampton, who was the head of the Chicago Panthers, was given a sedative by an FBI Agent before the police fired into his apartment where he and Clark were sleeping. The attack was initially described as a battle, but the Panthers only fired one bullet. The murders were part of a long line of plans to eliminate the party.
What Issues Did the Party Face?
Newton and Eldridge Cleaver (who joined the party shortly after it was founded) differed in their ideological beliefs, creating ongoing tensions. Cleaver was not so much interested in helping Black communities but was in search of a manhood symbol. In 1969, he fled to Algeria to escape imprisonment and, while there, set up his own branch and used it to attack the Panthers and their work back in the US. Cleaver was eventually expelled from the Black Panther Party in 1970.
As a hypermasculine party, it is not surprising that sexism was a particularly prominent issue, especially under the leadership of Cleaver, who believed women should be submissive. Indeed, women in the party often held positions to ‘fit’ their gender, such as cooking and cleaning. They were also subject to sexual harassment, resulting in some of them leaving the party.
Homophobia also affected chapters of the party and was particularly prominent under Cleaver but less so under Newton. Members of the party often used homophobic language, with Cleaver calling the FBCP a “sissy program.” Although the party never expressly excluded gay people, the party’s homophobia did affect their stability as an organization.
Despite the real change it facilitated, the party was subject to attacks and counterintelligence activities from the FBI and suffered internal issues with sexism, homophobia, and differing beliefs, which weakened it and contributed to its decline.
Reference List:
Kirkby R. J. ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’: Community Activism and the Black Panther Party 1966-1971. (2011). Canadian Review of American Studies, Vol 41, No.1
Seale, B. (1991). Seize the Time: The Story of The Black Panther Party and Huey P. Newton (2nd ed.). Black Classic Press.
FAQs
What specific tactics did the FBI’s COINTELPRO program use against the Black Panther Party?
The FBI employed a range of covert tactics to disrupt and dismantle the Black Panther Party. Some of the most significant methods included infiltration and surveillance, disinformation and propaganda, legal harassment, and assassinations and violence. COINTELPRO also aimed to create divisions between Black nationalist organizations and carried out so-called “Black Bag Jobs,” illegal break-ins and searches conducted to gather evidence and disrupt party operations.
What internal challenges contributed to the Black Panther Party’s decline?
Several internal challenges contributed to the party’s decline, including leadership conflicts, FBI pressure, and financial strain. The party’s extensive social programs and legal battles placed a significant financial burden on the organization, leading to resource shortages. The changes in the general social climate in the 1970s also played a part in the party’s decline.
Originally published: December 6, 2024. Last update: February 25, 2025, by Maria Anita Ronchini.
