oct 1, 1966 - The Black Panthers

Description:

Huey Newton and Bobby Seale set up a group called the Black Panthers in October 1966 in Oakland, California.
They wore black berets, trousers and leather jackets. They are a very famous Black Power group, even though they only had about 2,000 members across 25 cities
They often carried guns and unlike most other Black Power groups, the party was willing to work with white people to share it’s beliefs
Their aims were outlined in a ten point plan, as shown below:

PATROLLING THE PIGS CAMPAIGN
Panthers would follow police officers to prevent abuse of African Americans
Many people in the ghettos saw the Panthers as a more effective police force than the actual police, though there were frequent shoot-outs and violence that attracted negative publicity
The Black Panthers were seen as a great threat by the government because of their socialist beliefs - members were heavily watched by the FBI
HOW LIFE WAS IMPROVED IN THE GHETTOS
Black Panther groups were particularly successful with some of their schemes to try and improve life in the ghettos, as they:
Organised medical clinics to give black people free healthcare
Ran breakfast clubs for black children to attend before school
Provided free shoes for poor black families
Ran classes on black history
Encouraged cooperation between African American gangs to reduce violence
Money for their projects was raised from donations, mostly given by black businesses
Sometimes it was also gained through theft

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