Founded by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale in 1966, the Black Panther Party was focused on improving the quality of life of Black youth and communities. Though it was initially founded in Oakland, California, the Black Panther Party soon gained nationwide support, with chapters in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, New York City, and more. Concerned about the use of violent force against Black communities, the Black Panthers organized patrols of armed party members to follow the police and watch out for instances of brutality. As supporters of the Black power movement, the Black Panther Party also sought to uplift Black communities to increase their economic and political power. As a result, they were best known in their communities for their efforts to provide social programs serving under-resourced neighborhoods. These programs included Free Breakfast for Children, which both provided meals and before-school education for Black youth; Liberation Schools, which taught Black history during after-school programs; free medical clinics, which provided health screenings; self-defense lessons; and more. Due to the widespread success of these programs, the Black Panther Party was popular amongst the communities they served. However, their more militant messaging often angered the local, state, and federal governments, who often sought to shut down the Black Panthers when possible. This took place most famously in Chicago in 1969, when chapter leader Fred Hampton was killed in his sleep by the police in collaboration with the FBI. In 1982, the Black Panther Party was formally dissolved after 16 years in operation.
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In this multi-part lesson, students will examine the connections between the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Black Panther Party for Self Defense (Black Panthers) and the impact of both organizations on civil rights. The first lesson focuses on the history of SNCC.
In this multi-part lesson, students will examine the connections between the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Black Panther Party for Self Defense (Black Panthers) and the impact of both organizations on civil rights. The second lesson focuses on the Panthers and a cumulative exhibit creation project.
Through an exploration of the life of Japanese American activist Richard Aoki, students will examine one man’s story that is more complex than the simple binaries we often find in stories of activism.
