THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY
Ten Point Platform & ProgramOctober 1966WHAT WE WANTWHAT WE BELIEVE
1. WE WANT freedom. We want power to determine the destiny of our Black Community.
WE BELIEVE that black people will not be free until we are able to determine our destiny.
2. WE WANT full employment for our people.
WE BELIEVE that the federal government is responsible and obligated to give every man employment or a guaranteed income. We believe that if the white American businessmen will not give full employment, then the means of production should be taken from the businessmen and placed in the community so that the people of the community can organize and employ all of its people and give a high standard of living.
3. WE WANT an end to the robbery by the CAPITALIST of our Black Community.
WE BELIEVE that this racist government has robbed us and now we are demanding the overdue debt of forty acres and two mules. Forty acres and two mules were promised 100 years ago as restitution for slave labor and mass murder of black people. We will accept the payment in currency, which will be distributed, to our many communities. The Germans are now aiding the Jews in Israel for the genocide of the Jewish people. The Germans murdered six million Jews. The American racist has taken part in the slaughter of over fifty million black people; therefore, we feel that this is a modest demand that we make.
4. WE WANT decent housing, fit for the shelter of human beings.
WE BELIEVE that if the white landlords will not give decent housing to our black community, then the housing and the land should be made into cooperatives so that our community, with government aid, can build and make decent housing for its people.
5. WE WANT education for our people that exposes the true nature of this decadent American society. We want education that teaches us our true history and our role in the present-day society.
WE BELIEVE in an educational system that will give to our people knowledge of self. If a man does not have knowledge of himself and his position in society and the world, then he has little chance to relate to anything else.Source:
THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY
Ten Point Platform & Program
Ten Point Platform & Program
October 1966
WHAT WE WANT
WHAT WE BELIEVE
1. WE WANT freedom. We want power to determine the destiny of our Black Community.
WE BELIEVE that black people will not be free until we are able to determine our destiny.
2. WE WANT full employment for our people.
WE BELIEVE that the federal government is responsible and obligated to give every man employment or a guaranteed income. We believe that if the white American businessmen will not give full employment, then the means of production should be taken from the businessmen and placed in the community so that the people of the community can organize and employ all of its people and give a high standard of living.
3. WE WANT an end to the robbery by the CAPITALIST of our Black Community.
WE BELIEVE that this racist government has robbed us and now we are demanding the overdue debt of forty acres and two mules. Forty acres and two mules were promised 100 years ago as restitution for slave labor and mass murder of black people. We will accept the payment in currency, which will be distributed, to our many communities. The Germans are now aiding the Jews in Israel for the genocide of the Jewish people. The Germans murdered six million Jews. The American racist has taken part in the slaughter of over fifty million black people; therefore, we feel that this is a modest demand that we make.
4. WE WANT decent housing, fit for the shelter of human beings.
WE BELIEVE that if the white landlords will not give decent housing to our black community, then the housing and the land should be made into cooperatives so that our community, with government aid, can build and make decent housing for its people.
5. WE WANT education for our people that exposes the true nature of this decadent American society. We want education that teaches us our true history and our role in the present-day society.
WE BELIEVE in an educational system that will give to our people knowledge of self. If a man does not have knowledge of himself and his position in society and the world, then he has little chance to relate to anything else.
Source:
Here is the original first five points of the 10 Point Program designed by the Panthers in 1966.
1. What is the main idea of their 10 Point Program? What is it that the Panthers want?
2. Observe how the American government is portrayed in the program. How do the Panthers view the government?
3.Given the events of the time (1960s), explain why the Panthers may have this view of the American government.
4.Interpret what the Panthers "believe." Are these requests unreasonable and do they align with the any rights outlined in the Constitution's Bill of Rights?
Link to Article of a Black Woman
The link above is an article from September 14, 1968 from The Black Panther, the official publication of the BPP. Read the first couple of paragraphs and then look at the image at the bottom before proceeding to the questions.
1. What kind of woman wrote this article and who was her intended audience?
2. How does this article help explain the struggles faced by Black men of the time?
3. Describe the role of a Black woman as outlined in this article. How is it a "dual" role?
4. Considering the traditional gender roles of the time, evaluate the way this article empowers women.
5. Look at the image of the BPP women at the end of the article. How does the title of the image connect to the message of the article?
CONTINUE TO NEXT IMAGE
Original six Black Panthers (November, 1966) Top left to right:Elbert "Big Man" Howard; Huey P. Newton (Defense Minister), Sherman Forte, Bobby Seale (Chairman). Bottom: Reggie Forte and Little Bobby Hutton (Treasurer).
1. Read the titles of the offices that the men held. What tasks or responsibilities do you think each of these offices entailed?
2. Describe the stance and demeanor of these men. How would you describe their attitudes in the picture?
3. Do these men resemble any other Civil Rights leaders we have talked about in class (Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, etc)? Compare and contrast them using their demeanor and appearance.
4.Now that you have read and analyzed the 10 Point Program, are these the types men you envisioned writing such a document? Explain why or why not.
CONTINUE TO NEXT ARTICLE
Link to Article of a Black Woman
The link above is an article from September 14, 1968 from The Black Panther, the official publication of the BPP. Read the first couple of paragraphs and then look at the image at the bottom before proceeding to the questions.
1. What kind of woman wrote this article and who was her intended audience?
2. How does this article help explain the struggles faced by Black men of the time?
3. Describe the role of a Black woman as outlined in this article. How is it a "dual" role?
4. Considering the traditional gender roles of the time, evaluate the way this article empowers women.
5. Look at the image of the BPP women at the end of the article. How does the title of the image connect to the message of the article?
CONTINUE TO NEXT IMAGE
This is a picture of the founders of the BPP, Huey P. newton on the left and Bobby Seale on the right. This is also an example of how the Panthers dressed and represents their beliefs as well.
1. What are the men wearing and what are they holding? Be very specific.
2. Appraise their image. What does their outfit symbolize?
3. Based on earlier readings, why do you think they are carrying guns?
4. Is it legal for them to be carrying guns? Do you feel their carrying guns is a justified action? Why or Why not?
5. What organizations that are still around today wear matching uniforms? What image do these uniforms portray and is it the same image that the BPP were trying to portray?
CONTINUE TO NEXT IMAGE
1. Who do you think the man behind the podium is and what is depicted in the photo?
2. The motion that Huey Newton is giving in the picture became a symbol of the Black Panthers and Black Power. Describe the motion and what it symbolizes.
3. Think about other hand gestures that have been connected to leaders or social movements throughout history. Does this gesture look like any of them? If so, which one and why would this be controversial?
4. What would you do or feel if you saw a classmate making a hand gesture such as the Black Power fist? How do you think the school and administration would react?
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