Who were the Black Panthers?

1. Bobby Hutton – aka – Lil’ Bobby. Read about his life on p.79. What was so dangerous about this man and the movement known as the ‘Black Panthers’

2. Who were the Black Panthers?  Learning objectives TBAT origins and aims of the Black Panthers To assess the reasons for their decline

3.  Your task • Read p.79-81 and note down the following: • The origins & aims of the Black Panthers • The ideological inspiration for the movement • Can you explain what was so threatening about them?

4. Origins & Aims Founders – Huey P Newton & Bobby Seale (1966) Inspiration – ‘the BP movement exists in the spirit of Malcolm X’ Self- defence – militias in BP uniforms Improved conditions – welfare schemes for northern ghettoes

5. 10 Point Programme How many of these aims were already covered by King or the NOI? • Power over their destinies • Free healthcare • End to police brutality • End to wars of aggression • Full employment • Anti-capitalist • Better housing • Better education • Better justice system • Better social conditions

6. Ideologies • Black nationalist – self-government • Anti-colonialism • Supported revolutionary government, e.g. Mao’s Communist China • Opposition to Vietnam War • Admired Marxist aims to improve conditions of working classes

7.  Your task You can choose a maximum of 2 pieces of evidence for each category! Be prepared to explain your choices Read p.81-3 and take notes on the methods of the movement. Focus on these areas: Patrol the Pigs Welfare programmes Health care clinics Education

8. Methods • ‘Patrol the pigs’– police operations monitored; Newton carried law books in car, intervening when blacks stopped by police • Welfare programmes – ‘survival programmes’ e.g. free breakfasts for school children, health clinics, free ‘liberation schools’ • Health clinics - tested for sickle cell anaemia & contraceptive care • Education – Liberation Schools educated black Americans about past struggles & achievements & helped raise self-esteem

9. Why did the Black Panthers go into decline in the 1970s?

10.  Your task • Read about the reasons why the Black Panthers went into decline on p.83-4. Take notes under these headings. Again limit yourself - this time to 3 pieces of evidence • Internal pressure • External pressure

11. Decline • Focus of police attention esp FBI’s COINTELPRO organisation due to support of armed resistance & criminal activity & suspicions of links with Communists • Many leaders killed or imprisoned, e.g. Newton arrested for murder in 1967, or on the run • FBI used underhand techniques, e.g. tapped phone calls, infiltrated organisation, forged letters • Funds spent on legal fees to detriment of ‘survival programmes’ • Tensions between leadership, e.g. between Newton & Eldrige Cleaver • Sexism - tensions between male & female recruits

12.  Role play A group of Black Panther activists are to hold a press conference. The press are suspicious about the aims and methods of this new movement. Ask questions about the methods, inspiration, relations with Police, education programme

13.  Extension task • Read the extracts your teacher provides and note down additional evidence for the decline of the movement.

14.  Homework • Prepare for a timed essay question on the impact of Black Power. •  Put together a top ten list of Black Power music and films

15.  Plenary • Reasons for divisions within civil rights? • Aims of Black Panthers • Reasons for failure? • Characteristics of Black Power movement • Were the problems facing Black Power similar to other civil rights organisations?