ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE
The increased number of newspaper sales shows more and more people were becoming receptive to the BPP’s words and the government’s attempt to silence the BPP exemplifies the whites’ need to remain superior and in control. Just as the BPP was willing to use any means necessary to achieve its goals, the government used any means necessary to prevent the unification of blacks and its supporters and the effectiveness of the BPP, reflecting the government’s higher concern for maintaining a compliant populace than for adherence to protecting the rights granted to all citizens.
The BPP was a national and international icon and a model for other oppressed groups struggling for freedom, and its support from and alliances with white youths and radicals are evidence the tense social atmosphere of the time that necessitated social change. The BPP’s antiwar stand attracted many, in the U.S. and worldwide, who opposed the Vietnam War that was going on at the time. Blacks saw American interference in the war as another example of its attitude toward and treatment of colored people.[25] The BPP was invited to speak at rallies and demonstrations in Canada, Japan, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Korea, China, Vietnam, and Africa and wrote about the struggles for freedom in Africa; its solidarity with freedom fighters made it an international voice against racism and oppression[26] and BPP coalition and support groups emerged internationally. The popularity the BPP gained and the attention it received encouraged other people to band together and fight for liberation. New organizations that sprung up, such as the Brown Berets, White Patriot Party, Red Guard, Young Lords, and Gray Panthers, modeled themselves after the BPP.[27] As the BPP expanded, its struggle for black liberation became an international struggle for the liberation of all peoples; its influence and commitment inspired many others to voice their concerns and to make change happen. Even though the BPP eventually disbanded and its programs were not sustained, the impact and legacy it left on the United States, and worldwide, is incredible and should be commemorated. Many, particularly the media, the government, and racist whites, denounced the BPP as a dangerous insurgent group because of its bold and confrontational tactics, and in doing so, they failed to see the positive impact the BPP had on the Civil Rights Movement. Its programs and involvement in the community provided confidence and pride to a group of people, who did not have a reason to be for many years, but the BPP transformed black identity by teaching blacks to use self-defense and their natural given rights to empower themselves and prove their worth as human beings. Blacks realized change was possible if they fought for it and the love and pride blacks felt for themselves and the black race convinced many to choose to risk their lives rather than continue living under the oppressive hand of whites. The resistance and power blacks displayed during this time were essential for the success and influence of the Civil Rights Movement. As whites and the government fought back against the growing impact of blacks as they collectively attempted to secure the rights and quality of life they deserved, the fight became more than just a struggle for basic necessities; it became a battle for justice, equality, and freedom for all, inspiring later individuals and groups to fight for what they wanted and believed in. |
[25] Haskins, 13-4. [26] Elbert “Big Man” Howard, “The Global Appeal of the Black Panther Party,” [http://www.itsabouttimebpp.com/Announcements/pdf/The_Global_Appeal_of_the_Black_Panther_Party.pdf], Sept 2010. [27] The Huey P. Newton Foundation, “Legacy,” [http://www.blackpanther.org/Legacy1.html], 2010. |