In reality, the group had very clear goals and set out its agenda in a 10-Point Plan. They Were an Organized Group That Advocated Social ChangeĪnother myth surrounding the Black Panthers was that it was an unorganized rabble. Certain sections of the media used this imagery to portray the group as violent unfairly. Some of their members caused controversy by standing in front of Sacramento’s State Capitol Building with large guns. In 1967, the Panthers protested against the Mulford Act, a law designed to make the bearing of loaded weapons in public illegal. While some dubious characters allied themselves with the group, the Panthers as a whole were against violence. One of the major misconceptions about the group was that they were militant and prone to violence. While African American cultural nationalists were often anti-white and regarded all Caucasians as oppressors, the Panthers were only opposed to racist whites and aligned themselves with white people who fought against racism. The group quickly looked to differentiate itself from organizations such as the Nation of Islam. Police were given greater power to deal with protests which meant an increase in violence against citizens primarily African-Americans.Īfter the assassination of Malcolm X in 1965, two students from Merritt Junior College, Huey Newton, and Bobby Seale formed the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense in 1966 although they shortened the name to the Black Panthers soon after. A reduction in public services and employment opportunities led to widespread urban problems which culminated in various uprisings such as the Watts riot in L.A. With a Few Exceptions, The Black Panthers Group Was Not Particularly Violentĭespite the passage of civil rights legislation in the 1960s, African Americans continued to suffer from social and economic inequality. During their short history, they were involved in a number of innovative projects, some of which survive today. In reality, the group harbored a desire to improve the lives of African-Americans that lived in poor communities.
For example, some people still perceive the Black Panthers as violent militants who were anti-white and chauvinistic. There are still a number of misconceptions surrounding the group, which dissolved in 1982. It was co-founded in Oakland, California by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale in 1966 and within a few years, it has reached its peak membership level and had offices in 68 cities. Originally known as the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, this group represented an important movement in the Civil Rights era.
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