Social movements are usually unofficial or unsanctioned joint efforts of individuals or citizens aiming to bring a difference in their world. Countries and indeed the whole world is somehow better off today because social movements have shaped our culture, politics, economies, and many other sectors which are critical for development. National and world history has been crucially shaped through the efforts of social movements. This paper critically reviews the literature on the Black Panthers social movement formed in October 1966 in the United States of America by Bobbie Seale and Huey Newton who were both activists at Merritt Junior College in Oakland California (Ogba, 77). The party was inspired and mainly influenced by the teachings of Malcolm X and the black power movement (Jones, 27). The original ideas of the party were; self-defense, protecting the community against police brutality, restructuring American society to attain social, political, and economic equality concerning the principles of socialism. It analyzes the forms of public address and popular resistance associated with the social movement, specifies the formal nature of the organization, and gives an analysis of the effectiveness of the official means of public communication.
Forms of Public address
The Black Panther party applied various forms of public address among them; use of speeches, civil protests, and theatre. In light of the above mentioned, speeches played a significant role in passing the message and ideologies of the movement (Jones, 212). While the activists were on the platform they talked about the following issues; Freedom of the black community from racism and self-determination, provision of full employment for the black people, restitution for slave labor provided by the black people and murder inflicted on them, decent and affordable houses, education that gave the black people full knowledge of their history, exclusion of black men from the military services, an instant end to police brutality, and immediate release of all black men from prison because they were not subjected to fair trials among other issues (Reed, 41).
Civil protests were also used as an important form of addressing the public applied by the Black Panther Party. Through the protests, they were able to put across their dissatisfaction with the racial and selective application of law and against police brutality. They carried guns to show that the intimidation meted on them by the police can be challenged by the black defense. The Black Panther’s bold actions inspired and encouraged many people who felt oppressed by white authorities.
Theatre, a vital form of public address was used by the Black Panthers in their bid to pass across their message. The leaders of the movement took an active role in plays that were conducted at the State Capitol Building in Sacramento. The plays were used to pass across the Party’s ideologies on their cry for equality justice and freedom to be brought to the streets of most cities of the United States.
Resistance Associated with the Black Panthers
The Black Panthers movement was lead by Bobbie Seale, Huey Newton, and other top members constituting the committee with each having a designated responsibility. It is this Committee that spoke on behalf of the movement as they were elites and needed to enlighten the community of the oppression they are undergoing. The Black Panthers movement was embraced by most of the people who felt oppressed such as the Blacks and the Puerto Rican young men and even the white revolutions which were against racial discrimination and in need to reform the American society. However, the movement was strongly resisted by the government and its agencies such as the police and the FBI who brutally abused the Panthers and mercilessly killed them (Reed, 57). The Police brutality was extreme that, the whole group was to be completely wiped out. The FBI achieved its goal by infiltrating the Movement through informants and using propaganda as a tool to cause division among the group’s leadership (Armstrong, 2002).
The Panthers had several issues they wanted to be addressed. Among these issues were popularly known as the ten points and were as follows; Freedom from oppression for black people and oppressed communities, full employment of black people, or at least provide guaranteed income. Restitution of slave labor provided by the black people and massacres inflicted on them, decent and affordable housing fit to be inhabited by human beings, Education that give the black people full knowledge of their history and their true role in the American society, free health care capable of providing preventive medical programs, an immediate end of police brutality against blacks and other oppressed people of color, end of all acts of aggression since all stem from the ruling circle, the release of all black political prisoners because they never received an impartial trial, lastly, land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice and peace to be a major political objective.
The black panthers rallied on the concept that black people had a right to defend themselves against the racist government by any means deemed necessary including violence (Ogba, p.69). This ideology made them be in constant log heads with the police and at the same time be an alternative to the moderate civil rights activists of the time.
The Panthers reacted to critics by strengthening their support among the oppressed and hence gained more popularity. In addition, the movement was not intimidated by police guns or the FBI but put up a strong fight on behalf of the people. However, the group did not anticipate informants to be within it (Lazerow, 80).
The Formal Nature of the Black Panthers
Newton and Seale chose a military form of organization with a clear chain of command and an established hierarchy with a central committee made up of various ministers (Reed, 57). They were driven by the feeling they held black people on the streets and therefore needed discipline. This structure emphasized military training in the arm and official marching. The leaders believed that to achieve radical change enlightened elites needed to push for it (Lazerow, 28).
During its formation, the party was intended for the local people but it later established alliances with other groups and acquired an international outfit. The group formed alliances with revolution groups in Cuba, Middle East, South East Asia, and Africa. Within America, it is affiliated with groups such as; The Puerto Rican young lords, The American Indian movement among others (Reed, 57).
The Black Panthers had a membership of over, 2000. Many of the group members were killed by police during raids and others were subjected to imprisonment including Newton Huey, the group’s minister of defense who was charged with manslaughter after a shootout at Oakland with the police. The leader’s relationship with the membership was cordial this is seen by Hampton’s ability to persuade street gangs to stop fighting each other and in 1969 he announced a nonaggression pact and later formed the rainbow alliance which encompassed the blacks Puerto Rican and poor youth.
The membership of the group has since changed due to several reasons; first, most of the founder members were killed including Fred Hampton and Mark Clerk, and others were imprisoned. Moreover, others left voluntarily while others were expelled Second, the group changed its course after Newton’s release, it became more involved with social programs such as free breakfast for children, free medical clinics, it also gave away free clothing, food and established more control of schools and police, in addition, they campaigned against drug abuse and crime. Lastly, in the mid-1970s, the party declined as a political force due to internal divisions, constant attacks, and legal barriers.
The official Means of Public Communication
The Panthers used several means of public communication and they included newspapers since the party had one (Jones, 420). At the party’s disposal were also pamphlets which were published by Newton in 1970 and were later re-issued in 1972 as a collection of his essays and speeches. Mostly used by the group were rallies which lastly, television played a major role as a means of communication as it enabled the group to reach their supporters who were far and could not attend rallies. All the means applied were effective and achieved the purpose of the group. They reached well to the intended audience and relayed the message as intended (Theoharis, 13).
Works Cited
Reed t. Vernon. The Art of Protest: Culture of Activism from Civil Rights Movement to the Streets of Seattle. Minnesota: Minnesota Press. 2005.
Ogba J. Black Power: Radical Politics and African Americans Identity. JHU Press. 2005.
Jones C. The Black Panther Party (Reconsidered): Reflections and Scholarship. Black Classics. 1998.
Lazerow J., Yohuru W. In Search of the Black Panther Party: New Perspectives and Revolutionary Movements. Duke University Press. 2006
Theoharis J, Woodard K, Payne C. Ground Work: Local Black Freedom Movement in America. New York: NYU Press. 2005.
Armstrong B. Teaching the Civil Rights Movements in America: New York: Routledge. 2002.