The Black Panthers had an interesting relationship with the police across America. Often times there were violent encounters that often ended with death. Below are videos, photos, and first hand accounts of the BPP's relationship and ideas about American law enforcement.
1. Can you easily identify the people in the picture? What organization do they belong to and how can you tell?
2. The men are exiting somewhere. Where do you think they are? Do they look happy to be leaving?
3.What is their over all demeanor? Are they confident, scared, or indifferent?
4. This is a photo from June 27, 1969 outside of the Central Police Station in Omaha, Nebraska. The Panthers in this picture are leaving the station after being questioned. Based on what you know about how the Panther's dealt with court and police, what do you think the two men with the guns are doing? Are they posing any threat?
5. This picture was published. Where do you think it appeared? What image does it give the Panthers?
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click on the following link to watch a video about the Panthers. Once you click the link and it takes you to the site, click "WATCH VIDEO." Only watch the first 3 segments.
1. Who do you think is speaking? What evidence do you have to back up your hypothesis?
2. How do they describe the police presence in their neighborhoods? Why do they say this?
3. How do they combat and deal with the police presence in their neighborhoods? Do you agree with their actions? Would you trust the police if you lived in Oakland, CA (where they live)?
4. Why do they say that the police are siding and protecting only the white businesses and property? Do you agree with their conclusions? Is this a fair assessment?
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1. Who are the people in the picture and what are they doing?
2. Do the four men in the picture look amused or happy? Considering what the men are doing, is this a normal emotion to feel?
The dead man in the picture is Black Panther Fred Hampton. Hampton was head of the Illinois Black Panther Party and was gunned down by police on the West side of Chicago on December 4, 1969. Hampton showed no threat to police at the time of his death.
3. Why do you think the police in the picture look happy?
4. How do you think the Black Panther Party reacted to the slaying of Fred Hampton? How did this effect their relationship with law enforcement?
5. How do you think the media covered the death of Fred Hampton? Do you think they were biased to any side, did they report on his death? If so, what angle did the media take?
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Click on the following link to read an interview with Huey Newton, founder of the BPP, from a 1972 edition of Jet magazine. Look at his cover picture first, then scroll down to page 21 for the article.
1.Look again at Newton's cover picture. How has he changed? Has his demeanor changed? How long has it been since the Panthers were founded?
2. What has changed about the Panthers? What misconceptions about the Panthers and Newton's life does he discuss?
3. Describe Newton's apartment? Where is it located? What interesting piece of equipment does he have?
4. Why would Newton live where he lives? What hasn't changed about the BPP's relationship with law enforcement? Why is Newton still a "watchdog?"
5. What surprised you most about his interview? Would this type of interview be published today? Why or why not?
6. Does Newton remind you of any of our modern day leaders or any other historical figures in history? How so?
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The Chicago Defender, December 6-12, 1969
Illinois Black Panther Party Chairman Fred Hampton was murdered in cold blood while he slept in bed, two Panther officials asserted at week's end...
...Police said a group of Panthers inside the apartment opened fire on them when they sought to enter with a search warrant to investigate a report of unlawful weapons...
..."Why in the world... would they try to serve a warrant at 4 a.m... They think people are going to fall for that -- but we're going to educate the people about how the pigs are going around masquerading as law but what they're really doing is eliminating, killing and trying to wipe out black people," [Panther deputy minister of defense Bobby Rush] declared...
..."Black people better get it through their heads that this isn't just a terrorist act against the Panthers. It's directed at us but it means that every black person better get himself together and arm himself against the pigs..." [said Rush].
These are excerpts from The Chicago Defender in December of 1969.
1. What kind of source is this? Thinking about the location of the source, what is the mindset of the people in this area as compared to the South. Are they usually more liberal or conservative? Would this article have been published in Birmingham?
2. What time did the police serve the search warrant? Is this normal procedure based on what you know? Why would they choose to serve a search warrant at that time?
3. Reread Bobby Rush's comment. What is he insinuating about the Police? What word does he use that you have seen before to describe the police?
4. DO you think the Panther's and Hampton were unfairly treated? Evaluate the role of the police in the situation and then evaluate the Panthers' reaction. Were the actions of either side justifiable?
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The Panthers were also very suspicious of the FBI. The FBI had developed COINTELPRO (Counter Intelligence Program) that would run surveillance on any person or organization that posed a threat on society. The program was widely used during the Civil Rights Movement and targeted many of its African American Leaders. It was often times not completely legal and has been the center of major controversy.
Click on the link below to watch a video with J. Edgar Hoover speaking, the head of the FBI at the time. Only watch the first 2 minutes.
1. How does Hoover describe the actions of Panthers? When do you think this speech was made?
2. Hoover calls the BPP the "greatest threat to national security." Why does he say this and do you agree with him?
3. What image has Hoover painted of the BPP?
4. Are Hoover's concerns about the BPP legitimate? Is he over reacting?
5. Given the current state of terror/threat for terror in the United States, how do you think the current FBI would deal with the BPP? If they were Muslim (which some of them were and others later converted, although it was not a requirement for membership)would the current FBI deal with them any differently? How and why?
