Black Panther: A News Reel Video

Today’s blog was written by Dr. Tina L. Ligon, Lead Archivist at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland

The ideology of Black Power promotes cultural appreciation and black self-determination. Although it sometimes has negative connotations, the phrase “Black Power” represented racial pride, political and economic empowerment, and community service among those of African descent.

The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPP) was established on October 15, 1966 by two college students, Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale in Oakland, California to monitor police brutality in the community. The Black Panther Party was a revolutionary organization, born out of the Black Power movement, with an ideology of black nationalism and armed self-defense. The Panthers also introduced and enacted progressive social programs, such as providing free breakfast for school children, sickle-cell anemia testing, legal aid, and adult education.

The video Black Panther (NAID 12101) in the RG 65 Motion Picture Films and Video Recordings, ca. 1936- ca. 1985 (NAID 12073) series contains footage of Huey P. Newton and Eldridge Cleaver discussing the purpose, need, and rise of the Black Panther Party in the African-American community, as well as their opposition to the Vietnam War. The video also shows images of Black Panther members participating in drills, protests, and singing panther songs in the Bobby Hutton Memorial Park and in front of the Alameda County Courthouse. Party Leader Kathleen Cleaver is also seen speaking at Hutton Memorial Park.

Disclaimer: video contains some harsh language

The Ten-Point Program (or Platform) as explained by Bobby Seale in the video established the goals and agenda of the BPP. The platform was created by canvassing the neighborhood to determine the wants and the beliefs of the black community. A couple of the points include: power to determine the destiny of the black community, decent housing, full employment, an immediate end to police brutality, and trial by a jury of peers.

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