Monday, October 19, 2009

October is Black Panther Month


When many people think of the "Black Panthers," they vision this group of people who always dressed in black with this miltary look, and always walking around with guns. This was the image that the media portrayed, but the Black Panthers were much more than that. The site, " The Talking Drum," gives and excellent overview of the party, its members, philosophy, and trials and tribulations it endured in the 60's and 70's.


Founded in Oakland, California, by Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton on October 15, 1966, the organization initially set forth a doctrine calling for the protection of African American neighborhoods from police brutality, in the interest of African-American justice.[2] Its objectives and philosophy changed radically during the party's existence. While the organization's leaders passionately espoused socialist and communist doctrines, the Party's black nationalist reputation attracted an ideologically diverse membership.[3] Ideological consensus within the party was difficult to achieve. Some members openly disagreed with the views of the leaders.

In 1967 the organization marched on the California State Capitol in Sacramento in protest of a selective ban on weapons. The official newspaper The Black Panther was also first circulated that year. By 1968, the party had expanded into many cities throughout the United States, including Chicago, Los Angeles San Diego, Denver, Newark, New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, OR, Seattle, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. That same year, membership reached 5,000 and their newspaper, under the editorial leadership of Eldridge Cleaver had grown to a circulation of 250,000.

For more on the Panther Movement Click ---------> http://www.blackpanther.org/

additonal informational source for this post---------> Wikipedia

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