The Black Panther Party in Communities across America - Essay Example

Black Panther Party Before Huey Newton and Bobby Seale founded Black Panthers party (BPP) in 1966, there was a lot of inequality especially basing on races (Hilliard & Newton 3). For instance, white Americans normally worked in good conditions while Afro-Americans were subjected to poor working conditions in addition to meager wages. Apart from poor working conditions, Police officers tortured Afro-Americans by falsely accusing them of crimes such as theft and this resulted to jailing of many black Americans (Davenport 94). Black Panther party was known for their intensive campaign for human rights, because according to them all human beings are equal, it does not matter whether the person is black or white, male or female, the fact that he is a human being is enough proof that he ought to be treated like one. The essay will provide more information on Black Panther party, the roles it played and the impacts it left to the present community. According to BPP, the first objective was increasing patrols in black American communities in an attempt to minimize police brutality hat had dominated the regions whereas the second objective was to educate Afro-Americans in an attempt to reduce illiteracy (Davenport 94). The black Americans, also known as Afro-Americans moved to America during the great migration in 1915-1950. They were made to reside in the city centers, commonly known as ghettos while the white Americans lived in the outskirts (Nguyen 3). Life in the ghetto was so devastating because apart from residents’ poverty status, Afro-Americans lacked many basic needs such as lack of food that resulted from high rate of unemployment. Though a little percent of Afro-Americans in the ghettos had jobs, they could not sustain all family basic needs because normally they were low paying jobs (Nguyen 3).According to statistics,32% of black Americans residing in ghettos were unemployed while only 40% were employed(Nguyen 3). For the little percentage that was employed, they were normally subjected to poor working conditions compared to white Americans. Unlike the black Americans, only 6% of white Americans were underemployed. Due to the high level of poverty, many youths opted for criminal acts. The oppression of black Americans was the reason behind the 1964 riots in states such as Detroit and Newark (Nguyen 3). Huey Newton and Bobby Seale met at Merritt College where they were students. After college they came together and conducted a research on some of the problems affecting Americans, especially those of African American origin and the type of solutions that can help curb these problems. They focused the research in Oakland California and the surrounding states (Davenport 94).In 1966,Newton and Bobby alongside some few members come together and launched Black panthers party and established a headquarter in California. The party had two main objectives that it needed to accomplish. Apart from providing protection to the black Americans from police brutality, the party also wanted to stabilize black Americans in order to minimize the high level of poverty had engulfed them (Davenport 94). Immediately after its launch, there was drastic reduction in the rate of police brutality in African American neighborhoods. Apart from providing protection to African Americans, BPP was also known for its efforts in campaigning for the presence of African American people in the government (Davenport 95). In the 1960’s, many Afro-Americans lived in total poverty. Apart from poor living conditions, African Americans were also subjected to chronic illnesses, joblessness and frequent violence. Such unbearable conditions are the main reasons that made many African Americans involve themselves in lots of criminal activities such as burglary, which normally resulted to the presence of police brutality in the region (Davenport 94). BPP’s foundation marked the beginning of Afro-American journey to freedom. Though the party survived for a long period, it experienced a number of oppressions from the government in conjunction with the FBI. Apart from the frequent haunting of its leaders by law enforcers, party’s members and followers were always arrested whenever an opportunity availed itself (Hilliard & Newton 1). Apart from the negative ways in which the party was portrayed, BPP achieved many accomplishments that to date no other party has accomplished in such a short period. The party is known to have launched programs in all states that had BPP offices. The first program to be launched was free breakfast for all school going children .In the program, all children that attended school were given a healthy nutritious breakfast that normally comprised of milk, eggs, fries, bacon, fruits and fresh juice(Hilliard & Newton 30). Apart from free food for school kids, BPP also took the responsibility of supplying free food to the poor through the free food programs (Hilliard & Newton 35). This was another breakthrough of BPP’s mission of obtaining trust from people. Due to the increased level of poverty, many Americans never had decent food, some Americans survived on one meal a day because the price of having three meals a day was beyond their reach compared to the meager salaries they earned after toiling in factories for a whole day (Hilliard & Newton 35). In the modern world, the free food program is still in action. However, unlike the 20th century where it was only in the United States, in today’s world the program has extended beyond the US borders to many nations globally. The free food program not only saves many lives but also generates good international relations locally and internationally. Lack of education for black Americans prompted BPP to form the Intercommunal Youth institute, an institution founded in 1971 to solve the issue of illiteracy among African American youths that had dominated nation (Hilliard & Newton 5).Since its foundation there was a massive admission especially by people of the African American origin. One thing that made the institution popular throughout the United States was the way it conducted its programs. The institution not only offered basic and analytical skills but also transformed the way youths interacted with one another (Hilliard & Newton 5).The academic program contained subjects such as mathematics, arts, environmental studies and sciences. Many nations embraced these subjects and the form of education is used to date because apart from learning analytical skills, the courses are tailored to for immediate absorption in various work places once one graduates. This mode of education has resulted to emergence of brilliant African American brains employed in various top companies and corporations both in the US and other nations globally. There is also an increase in the number of black American police officers in the United States and this is the reason behind the decline in the police-black American conflicts as compared to the previous century. Apart from reduction in the rate of racism that had dominated in the nation, it also resulted to the establishment of good relationships between police officers and other black Americans. Due to the massive support both locally and internationally, the school was sponsored by a number of organizations such as the economic opportunity corporation(EOC) that supported the institution by disbursing funds during the institute’s first year (Hilliard & newton 5). Apart from EOC, other organizations like Pacific Change, Third World Fund and the Youth Project contributed massively in ensuring that the institution continued offering education and skills to African American children (Hilliard & Newton 5). Apart from organizations, the institute also received donations of items like books, school supplies and toys by well-wishers and other businesses. Apart from Intercommunial Youth Institute, BPP also founded Community learning center(CLC),this was a multipurpose institution that apart from providing educational services it also offered cultural and social activities(Billiard & newton 5).CLC offered a number of programs that were beneficial to Americans, some of the programs offered included adult education and cultural programs. The institution also offered special training on women self-defense skills such as Tae Kwon Do (Hilliard & Newton 10). In 1972, BPP launched health clinics that provided free medical diagnosis and treatment. This was one of the party’s best programs because the launch of this program eased many people from the expensive private hospital treatments considering that majority of Americans, especially of African Americans origin lived below poverty level standards. Apart from providing healthcare to the community, the clinics also conducted research on the proper medication for sickle cell anemia (Hilliard & Newton 21).Because children healthcare is of great importance, the health clinics had doctors specially trained to deal with children’s health. Children doctors were responsible for programs like immunization and treatment of anemia. BPP also launched the free ambulance service where sick patients were transported to hospital free of charge (Hilliard & Newton 27). Before the launch of free ambulance services, many sick people who could not afford to hire cars normally went through lots of pain and tribulations before reaching the nearest hospital. This is because although some hospitals had ambulance services, most of them normally refused to send them to pick the sick, some hospitals even charged the patients ambulance fees (Hilliard & Newton 27).BPP free ambulances were fully equipped with all the necessities required such as oxygen, First aid kits and dispatch radio equipment. Even after BPP’s reign, ambulances still exist globally and apart from assisting many sick people get to hospital; ambulances still play a big role in today’s world by saving millions of lives. BPP also launched a ten-point program, which according to BPP was a survival program for Afro-Americans and other needy people residing in the United States (Newton, Hilliard & Donald 55). Some of the rules in the program included the exemption of all African Americans from joining the military. According to BPP, there was no need for black Americans to be part of a military whose government was governed by racists (Newton, Hilliard & Donald 56). The second rule required the government to offer jobs to African Americans in an attempt to minimize the level of poverty that had marred in the Afro-Americans community. This is because United States was responsible in ensuring that all citizens, white and black have access to jobs that can sustain them together with their families (Newton, Hilliard & Donald 55). According to BPP, lack of jobs, especially youths were the reason why most of them indulged in heinous activities such as robbery and drug abuse. BPP also asked the government for decent housing and shelter for Afro-Americans because the high rate of poverty in ghettos made life quite unbearable whereby they had difficulty obtaining basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter. BPP also asked the US government to stop police brutality on African Americans because this not only resulted to the formation of self-defense groups that fought police officers but was also a catalyst of racism in the nation (Newton, Hilliard & Donald 56). The party went ahead to state that many black people arrested never underwent a fair trial because according to BPP there was a lot of racism even in court rooms where black people were always found guilty of crimes they never committed. Therefore, for fairness to prevail, BPP asked the government to release all Afro-Americans from prison, a move that the US government was not ready to comply (Newton, Hilliard & Donald 56). Black Panthers party campaigned for the right to education for all African Americans where they stated that through education one not only acquired knowledge but was also in a position to solve issues more decent manner. The freedom enjoyed today by majority of citizens in the United States is all courtesy of the ten-point program. It is because of the ten-point program that there is a more decent court where justice is served properly. Unlike in the past where judgment depended on a person’s race rather than the crime in question, the current court ruling focuses on the crime committed. Apart from the fair court rulings, the modern world is full of equality where people are treated equally irrespective of their gender, age or race. Unlike in the past where white-collar jobs were only meant for white Americans while other low paying jobs were set aside for the Afro-Americans, the current world is controlled by equality where a job can be done by anybody, white or black, so long as he qualifies for the job. Because of the ten-point program, many African Americans hold high rankings in the US military. In the past black Americans had low rankings in the military hence were always placed at the front during confrontations. This normally resulted to many Afro-American casualties. One other factor contributed by the ten-point program was reduction of racism, unlike in the past before the foundation of BPP, racism had dominated the United States whereby whites were seen to be more superior than the blacks (Nguyen 4). Racism had been in existence for decades since the first batch of African Americans landed in the United States to work in the white’s plantations as slaves (Nguyen 4). Slavery continued until 1863 when they were freed by the emancipation statement (Nguyen 4). Though the reign of slavery was over, whites continued treating blacks as slaves. Racism reached its peak in 1867 after the introduction of the Jim laws, which advocated for segregation. As a result, blacks were separated from whites and were not allowed to attend same schools, neither were they to work in the same offices (Nguyen 40). The segregation law severely inconvenienced Afro-Americans because they were sidelined and never enjoyed their freedom as the whites did. BPP came to the limelight in1967 when Seale, alongside several group members marched to the legislature offices in Sacramento California demanding for all African Americas be armed. This was when the Federal bureau of investigation (FBI), through its director Edgar Hoover officially declared BPP a threat to US internal security (Bloon & Martin 3).According to the BPP, Afro-Americans needed permission to be armed for the purpose of self-defense. This is due to the high rate of insecurity in the regions that they reside. Because the police were oppressing them instead of helping curb the high rate of insecurity (Bloon & martin 4).Hoover’s announcement made BPP change their tactics in order to win the hearts of many. The party launched more than 35 aid programs especially to Americans living in poverty. Some of the programs initiated included free medication, ambulance transportation and free breakfast school going kids. This move by BPP increased the number of members hence made the US government adopt it as a federal program, and this made the party survive up to the 21st century. Although many Americans hated BPP, especially whites. The party was loved my many states worldwide and wherever the founders of the party went they were always received with lots of applause and honor for their bold move to end imperialism in the united states(Bloon & Martin 2). This is because before its launch in 1966, Police officers used to raid black American communities and torture them on grounds that they were criminal gangs. The party’s large number of followers, locally and internationally made it grows at a faster rate compared to other parties (Bloon & Martin 2). The numerous supports became of great concern to the US government, the FBI and National Security Agency (NSA). The party was declared a threat to the US government due to the huge number of followers where almost 43% of African American youths aged below 21 had had devoted their lives to support BPP (Bloom & martin 3). For instance, during the Vietnam War in 1959-1975, Vietnams held a number of US soldiers captives and announced to the United States governments that the soldiers were to be released only if United States released all panthers from jail (Bloon & martin 3). Apart from Vietnam’s support, Cuba also came to the aid of the Black Panther by offering political asylum; it also offered military training (Bloon & Martin 2). BPP not only got support from developed nations, developing nations like Algeria also not only offered free diplomatic asylum to the panthers but also gave them an embassy building of their own (Bloon & martin 3). Though Black Panthers party was finally suppressed, there was a lot of information about its downfall that was not presented to the public. In 1969, the panther was at its highest peak when the government suddenly brought it down. According to research conducted in the past few years, BPP’s down fall was catapulted by the government’s intensive confrontation with the party. The government used all means to obtain vital sources of information from the panthers. Some of the common means included the hacking of communication channels in the many panthers offices throughout the US (Bloon & Martin 5).Apart from tapping communication channels, the government also used informants who would spy on the ongoing in the BPP and frequently update US security personnel such as the FBI and NSA. It was later discovered that the accusations about BPP involvement in criminal activities was just a technique used by the FBI and other law enforcers to bring down the party (Bloon & Martin 5). According to research, BPP was never involved in illegal activities; their only role was patrolling in areas dominated by Afro-Americans in a move to minimize police brutality on innocent civilians. The party also took the role of teaching residents about their civil rights. This move by BPP resulted to many black Americans, most of who were illiterate know their civil rights as Americans. Therefore, apart from generating boldness, it also gave them the urge to pursue their rights. In the modern world, all Americans are aware of their civil rights. In 1967, Newton was put behind bars for allegedly killing John Frey, a police officer allegations that Newton denied vehemently. This resulted to demonstrations throughout the United States demanding for his release. Apparently, John Frey stopped Newton together with Gene McKinney at traffic. According to many black Americans accounts, Frey was hostile racist who normally targeted Afro-Americans and arrested them on grounds that they had defaulted traffic rules (Davenport 1). Apart from traffic offences, Frey was also among the officers that harassed black Americans in the neighborhoods by falsely accusing them of petty offences such as robbery, poor usage of the loudspeaker and loitering (Davenport 1). After being newton being pulled over by Frey, what followed was a conflict that resulted to exchange of fire where both were injured but Frey never made it to hospital because he died on the spot (Davenport 1). Newton was rushed to Kaiser Hospital where he was handcuffed while undergoing medication. The foundation of Black Panther party (BPP) in 1966 went down records as the best thing that has ever happened to black Americans. This is because its foundation resulted to a lot of changes throughout the United states. BPP, which was founded by gentlemen; Newton and Bobby not only changed the way the US viewed black Americans. Before its foundation, many black Americans apart from living in extreme poverty, were also subjects to a lot of mistreatments and torture by the police. Through BPP programs, there was a drastic change in the way Africans were mistreated. For instance, there was an increase in the number of afro Americans employment and little oppression of by police officers. BPP objectives won the hearts of many not only in the United States but also globally in states like Cuba and Algeria. Although BPP had many followers, it also had many enemies who were ever campaigning for its downfall. The United States government declared BPP an illegal organization that ought to be abolished. The government’s statement received support from Edgar Hoover of the FBI who declared BPP a threat to the internal security of United States. Although the party was finally abolished, it is still remembered for its projects most of which still exist such as free ambulance services, breakfast for school children, free medical care and education to both youths and adults. One main role played by BPP that made it be recognized to date is the effort it did in abolishing racism, which had been in dominance for decades since the first batch of black Americans docked in the United States to work in the white’s plantations as slaves. Work Cited Davenport, Cristian. Media bias, perspective, and state repression: the Black Panther Party. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010.Print. Hilliard, David & Newton, Huey P. The Black Panther Party: service to the people programs. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2008.Print. Jeffries, L. J. On the ground : the Black Panther Party in communities across America. Mississippi.: University press of Missisippi,2010.Print. Newton, Huey P., Hilliard, David & Donald, Wiese. The Huey P. Newton Reader. New York : Seven Stories Press, 2011.Print. Nguyen, Thuy. The importance of the Black Panther Party for the emancipation of Afro- Americans in the 1960/70ies. Germany: München GRIN Verlag 2008. Print. Read More