Power To The People
February 2, 2010 by Brian Jenkins
Filed under Be Risen, Featured
The foundation of America has been built on the backs of those willing to sacrifice and make hard choices personally, for the good of the people as a whole. This has never been more on display then during the Civil Rights Movement of the 60’s. This movement happened in a time of Black Codes, better known as “Jim Crow” laws. These laws were meant to separate a whole race of people from the other, and later it was found that separate was not equal.
The Black Panther Party for Self Defense, during this transition of integration, emerged as the voice of all oppressed and seemingly powerless people. The party was founded in Oakland, California, by Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton on October 15, 1966. The main initial focus was for the protection of oppressed neighborhoods (overwhelmingly African American) from police brutality, in the interest of justice. The times though, lead the group’s focus to drastically broaden to larger more systemic efforts.
Their initial platform statement was written in a Ten-Point-Plan that I will simplify here:
WE WANT FREEDOM. WE WANT POWER TO DETERMINE THE DESTINY OF OUR BLACK AND OPPRESSED COMMUNITIES
WE WANT FULL EMPLOYMENT FOR OUR PEOPLE.
WE WANT AN END TO THE ROBBERY BY THE CAPITALISTS OF OUR BLACK AND OPPRESSED COMMUNITIES.
WE WANT DECENT HOUSING, FIT FOR THE SHELTER OF HUMAN BEINGS.
WE WANT DECENT 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 WANT COMPLETELY FREE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL BLACK AND OPPRESSED PEOPLE.
WE WANT AN IMMEDIATE END TO POLICE BRUTALITY AND MURDER OF BLACK PEOPLE, OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR, All OPPRESSED PEOPLE INSIDE THE UNITED STATES.
WE WANT AN IMMEDIATE END TO ALL WARS OF AGGRESSION.
WE WANT FREEDOM FOR ALL BLACK AND OPPRESSED PEOPLE NOW HELD IN U. S. FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, CITY AND MILITARY PRISONS AND JAILS. WE WANT TRIALS BY A JURY OF PEERS FOR All PERSONS CHARGED WITH SO-CALLED CRIMES UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS COUNTRY.
WE WANT LAND, BREAD, HOUSING, EDUCATION, CLOTHING, JUSTICE, PEACE AND PEOPLE’S COMMUNITY CONTROL OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY.
These weren’t the bold assertions of some radical group, these were simple demands that are still being made today by a majority of Americans. The Panthers though, sought to force the action. They were proactive much in the way that many of us are not today. Instead of playing the blame game and making requests, they chose to use the people’s power to influence the system. Huey Newton famously said, “I have the people behind me and the people are my strength.”
The Black Panthers started developing social programs to provide needed services to black and poor people in order to promote a model for a more humane social structure. There were more then 35 of these programs that ended up being called Survival Programs, and were operated by Party members under the slogan “survival pending revolution.” The first was the Free Breakfast for Children Program, which spread to every major city in America where there was a Party chapter. The Free Breakfast Program had become so large that the federal government was forced to start a similar program for public schools across the country. The Panthers also helped create free medical centers, initiated a door to door program of health services that tested for sickle cell anemia, and encouraged blood drives, while reaching out to local gangs to get them away from crime and into the class war.
The example of the Black Panthers and their strong influence on America is a good one for us to remember. First, the people carry the power, and when organized for just causes with detailed plans, their powers will be seen and exercised. And, secondly, that it takes people willing to do something about the problems of the day in order for those problems to change. Change is hard, and it definitely will not happen if you do not make it happen.
- Brian Jenkins
Twitter: @Brian_Jenkins
Right on….it’s too bad what the government did to the Panthers and other sixties radicals as well, those who were actually making progress before the counter-culture sold-out to transform themselves into the corporate whoring mainstream “liberals” we have today. If you have never read it, “Acid Dreams:CIA, LSD, and the 60’s Revolution” is a very informative, entertaining, and scary read.
Its almost funny to call them radicals. That too fits into the government propaganda about the Black Panthers. What they asked for was protection and equality. That is hardly radical to me.
It’s interesting to see that the Black Panther party’s critical issues for Black America are basically the same as the critical issues for Black America in 2010. Will we ever move pass these stumbling blocks, especially in urban areas? Also, although it is possible to obtain a comfortable lifestyle,far to many folks are left behind. These issues are well studied and analyzed yet not much activity has successfully changed the plight of those struggling, or caught up in destructive lifestyles. I’m still looking for “Change We Can Believe In”, including changing the slave mentality that cripples folks.
What is interesting is that it isn’t just Black America that wants these things now. Things have changed so much that it is now America that is looking for these solutions in our communities. But, what I will say is it is interesting that if Black America was treated equally then, America’s problems now may not be as severe. A nice thought during Black History Month.
It’s a shame that so many years later these are valid issues that need addressing