Black Panther Party Research Paper

At a time of war and inequality, when Americans were divided through different prospective. Everyone had their own views on the war and inequality between races. Such events like the civil rights movement in full swing with leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., police using brutality force against African Americans, and soldiers dying in the Vietnam War were the major reason behind the differences. The Black Panther Party was a response to the injustice of equality against African Americans. It was formed in 1966 by two activist named Huey Newton and Bobby Seale in Oakland, California. The party was first formed to protect the black community from police violence. The Black Panther Party Platform, Program, and Rules was written to inform the

They wished to have freedom, full employment, and regular housing like the white people. America claims they are a free country where people have the freedom to have the ultimate American dream. The party wants “power to determine the destiny of [our] black community” (Black Panther), however, this only applies to white American citizens. Why does this not apply to the other percent of citizens that are not Americans? Racism is the major cause for this injustice. While white men and women have the freedom to do a lot of things and have their secure full-time jobs, black people are still enslaved under the mental and verbal segregation of the country. Black people have yet to receive the freedom that America claims to have. The party also believes that the education being taught involving the African Americans is full of lies and or dishonesty. They wish to have the truth exposed so everyone especially little black children know the reality that is occurring between each race in the U.S. Black men fighting for a country that does not treat the way they should be treated also a belief that party demands from the government. They are convinced that black men should “not be forced to fight in the military service to defend a racist government that does not protect us” (Black Panther) because it is unfair to African Americans to fight when they are not respected for their color of their skin.

These rules were to be followed and disclosed when broken by one of the members. Such commitment to the party shows the determination and ambition to fight for every African Americans. Each member was not to possess any drugs or be drunk while on duty. They were also not allowed to hold a weapon while under the influence. Violence was also not allowed unless necessary; the members were no to “use, point, or fire a weapon of any kind unnecessarily or accidently at anyone” (Black Panthers). They were to be fully trained to work a weapon and could not commit an offence against other black people. It was required for all members to know the entire belief program the party believed in. Understanding the program would reinforce the original need and ambition back to the members so they would not give up with their mission. Everyone was also to have “mandatory political education class and read no less than two hours about changing political situations;” (Black Panther) because it ensured that each member had some knowledge of what was happening in the government. Learning the policies occurring at the time helped the Party know what they were facing and how to respond back to the government. No member could join any governmental military force unless it was the Black Liberation Army. Why? It was an ironic for a Black Panther Party member to be fight for a government that