In the early stages of the Black Panther Party, the goals of the Black Panthers were political and the way they went about achieving them were relatively peaceful. They instituted new social reforms such as free breakfast for children. However, as they continued to grow, violent encounters with police became more frequent, divisions among those in the party became more tense, and the FBI's involvement in trying to destroy the party was successful.
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The Black Panthers Involvement in Illegal Activity |
How Factions within the Black Panthers Led to their Downfall |
Huey Newton was arrested for murdering an Oakland police officer and he also admitted to killing an eighteen year old girl, Kathleen Smith. He described it as his first non-political killing. Other Black Panther Members were arrested for disobeying their probation and for their involvements in drugs. Huey Newton also stole money from the school he set up for drugs and he also said he ran an extortion operation across Oakland, involving bars and clubs. The party's intentions were good, but it ended up succumbing to corruption and greed and drugs and violence that was not needed to achieve their goals. Martin Luther King Jr. is a role model because of his nonviolent teachings and actions that ultimately led to change for the African American community.
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Stokely Carmichael, a member of the Black Panther Party, believed in black unity and he challenged the Panthers who wanted support from white people. This tension between Carmichael and other Panthers began the period of vicious fighting between those within the black militant community. FBI informers gave false information to those of black militant organizations which led to killing of people in the Black Panther Party by their fellow members. Huey Newton, when released from prison, tried to get the party back on its feet, but published charges that Newton and other Panthers assaulted and took part in coercion against other blacks quickly led to Newton's failure.
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Bobby Seale is in the top left, below him is Stokely Carmichael, the middle is Eldridge Cleaver, the top right is Huey Newton, and below him is Elaine Brown.
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