Black Panthers History
The Black Panther Party, more commonly known simply as the Black Panthers, was a militant political organization. It was composed solely of African-Americans. The Black Panthers were considered to be a radical party. According to the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation, J. Edgar Hoover, former FBI chief, once called the Black Panthers "the greatest threat to the internal security of the United States."
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Identification
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The Black Panther Party was originally called the Black Panther Party for Self Defense. It is commonly referred to as simply the Black Panthers.
Founders
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Huey P. Newton, along with Bobby Seale and David Hilliard, founded the Black Panthers. The impetus for forming this organization was the assassination of African-American Muslim activist Malcolm X.
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Time Frame
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The Black Panther Party was founded in 1966. By the end of the 1970s, the party had fallen apart due to internal conflict and pressure from the FBI.
Politics
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Black Panther leaders Elaine Brown and Bobby Seale ran unsuccessfully for public office in Oakland, California, in the 1970s. Later that decade, the Black Panthers had more success placing Lionel Wilson in office as the first African-American mayor of Oakland.
Goals
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The primary goal of the Black Panther Party was to end oppression of African-Americans, by force if necessary. The Black Panthers also wanted to combat poverty by instituting social programs, such as a free breakfast program for poor children.
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