The Black
Panther Party originated in Oakland, California in 1966. It was a revolutionary and socialist organization founded by Dr. Huey P. Newton who had earned a Ph.D. in Social Philosophy at UC Santa Cruz, and co-founder Bobby
Seale, who was a member of the Afro-American Association. It had chapters in the Bay Area, Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia
The Black Panthers even worked with white groups such as
the White Panther Party, which was formed in 1968 by Leni Sinclair and John Sinclair. And The Weather Underground group, founded by Bill Ayers at the University of Michigan in 1969. AKA the 'Weathermen', their political theory made every campaign an anti-imperialist, and anti-racist campaign.
The Black Panthers had armed citizens monitor police officers in an effort to halt the widespread police brutality of blacks in numerous
cities and states. The group initiated community social programs across the country, such as the Free Breakfast for Children Program, and People's Free Medical Centers. Kitchens across the US fed over 10,000 children every day before school.
Today: A group claiming to be the "New Black Panther Party" was formed in Texas. The Huey Newton Foundation, co-founder Bobby Seale, and the original party members insist it is an illegitimate hate group and they've strongly opposed it by stating "there is no new Black Panther Party"
See Also: Black Lives Matter, Ferguson Riots, Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman,
Shaun King
Example:
"We named it the Black Panthers because the nature of a black panther is that it never attacks. But if anyone attacks it or backs it into a corner, the panther comes up to wipe that aggressor or the attacker out, absolutely, resolutely, wholly, thoroughly, and completely" -Bobby
Seale
"White youth must choose sides now. They must either fight on the side of the oppressed, or be on the side of
the oppressor” -Bernardine Dohrn
"You don't
fight racism with racism, the best way to fight racism is with solidarity" -Bobby Seale
"Racism cannot be separated from capitalism" -Angela Davis