Bobby Seale was an influential figure in the Civil Rights Movement best known as a co-founder of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense. Born in Liberty, Texas, on October 22, 1936, Seale grew up in a racially segregated environment, which fueled his passion for social justice. Seale attended Merritt College, where he met Huey P. Newton. In 1966, the pair formed the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, an organization that aimed to combat police brutality and promote the rights of Black Americans. Seale played a crucial role in organizing community programs such as free breakfast programs and health clinics. Seale was targeted by police agencies using unconstitutional means in their determined efforts to stop Black protest. In 1969, Bobby Seale and seven others, later known as the Chicago Eight, were charged with conspiracy and inciting a riot following protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, in what many saw as an attempt by the U.S. Justice Department to suppress political activism.
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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.
