Black Communities During The 1960's

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During the 1960’s, there were important events, actions, and organizations that changed the black communities' lives. The 1960’s are an important time period because of the Civil Rights Movement. During that time period, the black community's were able to vote (Voting Rights of 1965) and the Civil Rights Act of 1968. Between 1965 and 1968, the Black Panthers Party was created. Huey Newton and Bobby Seale created the Black Panther Party in Oakland, California in 1966. The Black Panther Party was originally called, ‘The Black Panther Party for Self- Defense’; they implemented Malcolm-X philosophy of self-defense because during the time The Black Panthers were created there were high rates of police brutality towards the black community, which …show more content…

179). The Party members knew the needs of the black community due to their involvement. The Party was able to create spaces and programs where black people could feel free and safe. Their programs gave the black community a sense of freedom and taught the black community how to organize and to fight for what are basic human rights and necessities. Huey Newton explains the connection between politics and material needs of the black community. Newton states, “ The masses of Black people have always been deeply entrenched and involved in the basic necessities of life. They have not had time to abstract their situation. Abstractions come with leisure… People have been very aware of the true definition of politics: politics are merely the desire of individuals and groups to satisfy first, their basic needs – food, shelter and clothing, and security for themselves and loved ones”(Jones, pp. 179). Newton displays an image of the relationship between politics and the material needs of the black community, which is the basic need of humanity that is equality and …show more content…

The dedication of the Black Panther Party was one of the greatest moments in the history of the struggle for black freedom and democracy in the U.S. Their courage and vision towards white supremacy and other practices towards black people were unremarkable. The Party members fought against white supremacy and the government to be treated fairly with justice and equality. They were one of the greatest threats to American discrimination and segregation because the members had strategies and tactics towards their goals. The Ten Point Program informed everyone about the life and culture of the black community during that time period and allows the black community to see the injustice and inequality that was hidden. The Ten Point Program sheds light towards the problems and disadvantages that the black community had to endure. Huey Newton said, “Black power is giving power to people who have not had power to determine their destiny”. The Black Panther Party was able to give a voice to the black community and set a platform for them to be heard. Black life and culture in the U.S. was arduous, but the Panthers gave hope to the hopeless and survival tactics to the community. Freedom and education is not a privilege, it is a right to human beings. The color of ones skin should not determine how one should be treated. There should be freedom and justice for

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