The Black Panther Party was a political organization founded in the 1960s and disbanded in 1982.

Background:

The Black Panther Party had started with the Lowndes County Freedom Organization which armed themselves in Mississippi to promote voter registration. Huey Newton discovered this, liked their black panther symbol, and found the motivation to create a movement. There were many inspirations for the party including the infamous Malcolm X. The party leaders looked at rhetoric from individuals fighting for liberation in other countries and used that to build the foundation for the party.

Leaders:

The Black Panther Party was founded by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale. Another important leader would be Eldridge Cleaver who was the Minister of Information.

Organization:

The party's goals included a 10-point platform that sought to fight against systemic racism, police brutality, and economic and social inequality. The party also believed in self-defense through carrying firearms. The party had many successes such as the Free Breakfast for Food Program. Women in the party were often the backbone of these programs but got little media attention. Additionally, the party shed light on the injustices faced by the Black community through media presence.

Movements:

The Black Panther Party had several movements. Two of the most notable would be the Free Huey Movement and Eldrige Cleaver for President Movement. These two highlighted the injustices faced by the Black community while simultaneously promoting the Black Panther Party. The party would also inspire many movements in the future, like Black Lives Matter. 

Note:

This project is intended not to show any graphic violence. Therefore, certain aspects of the party are discussed with passive language.

Sources:

The information found in this project is from the Smithsonian Lab community and the documentary The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution.