Black Panthers

Michael Antwi

Black Panthers – Insert Clever Title Here

If history has one thing to say, it is that Revolution is a part of human nature. When a human feels that he/she is under unwanted pressure of any kind, he/she will try to find a way to escape the pressure. Example throughout history suffice evidence: Hebrews escaping the oppression of their tyrannical Pharaoh, Europeans escaping to the New World for religious freedom, even political difference can cause unwanted pressure among humans (a prime example being the Berlin Wall). Humans seem to have an inert desire to live as freely as possible, whether they can achieve it peacefully or other otherwise.

In the late 1900's, racial inequality was finally acknowledge as something in desperate need of change. Of course, just acknowledging something as a mistake is the easiest part of change; the hardest part is to actually change. Many new voices were being hard in this era, preaching equality between all races. Although they themselves believed their words, their actual goal was to persuade the minority's "common enemy"; the white man. Although there were those who continued to use their words to promote equality in a peaceful manner, when change is desired, radical ideas and immediate action are usually favored over traditional methods. And with this mindset, in the mid-1960's, the Black Panthers were born.

Originating as the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, the organization started as just that. It was no secret that there was very blatant discrimination against minorities in America, with African Americans seemingly receiving the full brunt of it. The Party for Self Defense started out as a collection of volunteers who provided community programs for fellow struggling minorities, with the sole intention of helping their fellow man deal with oppression and to obtain what he is entitled to. Their goal was to unite the entire African American race into working similarly like ants in a colony. One of the beliefs of the Panther Party was that their "destiny should be taken by their own hands".

The Black Panthers were an African American revolutionary group that originated in Oakland, California in 1966. Panther's founders Huey Newton and Bobby Seale were very fond of socialist and communist practices, so they were quick to attempt to establish a sort of leftish ideology; however, there was never a census as to the proper ideology the party would follow. Instead of arguing as to what philosophy they should follow, the Black Panther Party did what it was founded to do: aid the community. They were known for feeding the hungry through their various meal programs, protecting the weak from corrupt and unjust police officers, and presenting a new prospective to social and political activism to their fellow African Americans. The Panthers