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black culture in america
black culture in america
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The methods that the Panthers employed to secure Black liberation was quite feasible. This group of activists created a collective subjectivity. Thus in order to obtain all that they sought to achieve, the creation of a “revolutionary culture” was crucial to the panthers’ efforts to influence Black Americans’ consciousness, which aimed to defy the political and social powers of the United States (Rhodes, 2007, p. 92). Through the process of communication, and the use of guns as a means of intimidation, the Panthers were able to disseminate their beliefs and rituals towards a global audience. These messages relied heavily on the proliferation and buttressing of Black culture. So it seems that one can claim that the uplifting of Black culture
In Panther Baby, Jamal Joseph, an autobiography, tells about his life and his experiences as a member, later becomes a leader of Black Panther Party in New York City and a prison in Leavenworth, Kansas during between 1960’s and 1980’s. He writes this book, Panther Baby, of his personal story in which he shares his experiences in the Black Panther Party, New York and Leavenworth, Kansas. This paper will review Joseph’s story and will have an evaluation and ethical analysis that focus on our course’s theme of ethics and social responsibility.
The concepts of Reform and Revolution are nearly polarizing by their very nature, with one seeking to modify, and the other seeking to destroy and rebuild. If an organized Black movement was to find itself in an opportunistic position -whatever that may be- with which to attempt a radical movement (in either case; reform or revolution, the resulting movement would need to be large and radical if it would hope to accomplish its goals before the opportunity for change ceases to present itself) it would only serve to befall their efforts if they found themselves in a splintered state of conflicting ideologies. But, in either case, be it reform or revolution, a reconfiguring of the thought processes behind how one looks at the nature of American politics is undoubtedly necessary in order to look into the potential for future Black liberation.
The Black Panther Party, which was co-founded by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale in 1966, was a political party that pushed to overcome social oppression. After the assassination of Black activist Malcom X, the Panthers decided they had enough of seeing their race be denied the freedom they deserved. Members of the Black Panthers were tired of a society that continued to consider them “niggers.” They were tired of not having the chance to get out of poverty and live comfortably. They were tired of not getting a quality education that public schools in America should’ve been providing them. They were tired of being beaten, harassed, and unruly discriminated against by police solely because of the color of their skin. They wanted to live in the beautiful nation that America appeared to be for Whites. They wanted freedom and equality for African-Americans.
In the examination of the roots of the Party she emphasizes the importance that the Southern migrants had on the future movement; though they did not play as large a role in the Party as the youth did, the ideals and social structures of the old generation greatly inspired the Party and its rise to prominence. Murch uses this to approach why the Party was successful in maintaining itself on the local level but often failed on the national level. One can not argue that the Black Panther Party wasn’t a socially driven movement but Murch argues that the movement itself was driven by the social structures of the Bay Area African American community. Murch approaches the success of the Black Panther Party at an angle that examines how the Party’s positions and it’s course was driven by the public it was centered within. Murch details that the African American community of Oakland was deeply rooted in family values as well as social organizations, such as churches. The Black Panther Party’s initial success came about without having to address these roots but, as the Party expanded and wished to move ahead, the Party’s shifts in policy can be directly attributed to the wishes and needs of the community. Murch profiles the Oakland Community School and the People’s Free Food Program, which were social institutions created by the Black Panther Party to address the needs
Acoli, Sundiata. A Brief History of the Black Panther Party and Its Place In the Black
Wasserman, Steve. "Rage and Ruin: On the Black Panthers | The Nation." The Nation. N.p., 4 June 2013. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.
Robert F. Williams was one of the most influential active radical minds of a generation that toppled Jim Crow and forever affected American and African American history. During his time as the president of the Monroe branch of the NAACP in the 1950’s, Williams and his most dedicated followers (women and men) used machine guns, Molotov cocktails, and explosives to defend against Klan terrorists. These are the true terrorists to American society. Williams promoted and enforced this idea of "armed self-reliance" by blacks, and he challenged not just white supremacists and leftists, but also Martin Luther King Jr., the NAACP, and the civil rights establishment itself. During the 1960s, Williams was exiled to Cuba, and there he had a radical radio station titled "Radio Free Dixie." This broadcast of his informed of black politics and music The Civil Rights movement is usually described as an nonviolent / peaceful call on America 's guilty conscience, and the retaliation of Black Power as a violent response of these injustices against African Americans. Radio Free Dixie shows how both of these racial and equality movements spawned from the same seed and were essentially the same in the fight for African American equality and an end to racism. Robert F. Williams 's story demonstrates how independent political action, strong cultural pride and identity, and armed self-reliance performed in the South in a semi-partnership with legal efforts and nonviolent protest nationwide.
The Black Panthers aren’t talked about much. The Panthers had made a huge difference in the civil rights movement. They were not just a Black KKK. They helped revolutionize the thought of African Americans in the U.S.
Bloom, Joshua, and Waldo E. Martin. Black against empire: the history and politics of the Black Panther Party. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2013.
In the field of black studies we are exposed to a plethora of important figures that have made a significant impact in black history. These leaders fit, and can often be placed, into two categories: charismatic leaders and bridge leaders. Belinda Robnett, the woman who came up with the concept of bridge and charismatic leaders, defined charismatic leaders as “actors who occupy organizational offices which entail power and who also have personal power over subordinates”. Bridge leaders, on the other hand, are described as “actors within the organization who have personal but not official power over lower participants.” (Robnett, American Journal of Sociology pg. 64). In other words, a charismatic leader is someone who is a figurehead or spokesperson of a movement, while a bridge leader is the person with no official power but is instead the link between the people and the charismatic leader, often making the most impact in a movement but most commonly unrecognized. (Robnett, American Journal of Sociology pg. 64) This notion of charismatic and bridge leaders is clearly visible in many of the assigned readings, and plays a significant role in an authors’ concepts of radicalism. Radicalism simply cannot ascribe to one definition, it varies with each radical figure.
In the text, “From Slavery to Freedom: A History of African Americans,” the authors mention that the Black Panthers were more focused on black men then woman, who they saw as inferior and wanted men “who can control”. On the other hand in “ A Huey P. Newton Story”, the Black Panthers are described as a party based on a group or a whole not one gender over the other; however, it does emphasize that the leaders were male. No matter one’s observation of the attitudes of the party in “The Ten Point Plan”, there is no separation by gender when it explains the wants of the party but only a whole community. The message of sticking together is very clear throughout the plan as words such as, “We” and “people” are used in almost every point to exaggerate the idea that the plan will only work if everyone is
The Black Panther Party was born to elevate the political, social, and economic status of Blacks. The means the Party advocated in their attempt to advance equality were highly unconventional and radical for the time, such as social programs for under privileged communities and armed resistance as a means of self preservation. The Party made numerous contributions to Black’s situation as well as their esteem, but fell victim to the ‘system’ which finds it nearly impossible to allow Blacks entry into the dominant culture. Thus, the rise and fall of a group of Black radicals, as presented by Elaine Brown in A Taste of Power, can be seen to represent the overall plight of the American Black: a system which finds it impossible to give Blacks equality.
The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense was founded in October 1966, in Oakland, California by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale. Armed with sincerity, the words of revolutionaries such as Mao Tse-Tung and Malcolm X, law books, and rifles, the Black Panther Party fed the hungry, protected the weak from racist police, and presented a Ten Point Platform and Program of Black political and social activism. Its "survival programs"-such as food giveaways, free health clinics and free breakfast programs for children-were popular fixtures in Black neighborhoods in the early 1970s, but for the white power structure and the vast majority of the white public, the Panthers represented only anti-government militancy; a view which engendered the wrath of the police and FBI and led to the murder of several Party members by law enforcement.
Rippling in the wind, the banner strikes fear into its foes. Slightly squinting, John reads the poster. “Join the revolution, Join the Black Panthers Now!” Since he always wants to rebel against the Jim Crow laws, now is his chance. Old cars are parked neatly outside the diner as John is walking past. Teenagers are bolting to the bowling alley with their friends. Finally, John spots the base of The Black Panthers. Lacquered Black doors are standing in his path. Grasping the cold handle, his heart beat faster. Not knowing what would happen to him, he had to remind himself why he was here. Swallowing his fear, he begins to open the black doors. The doors creak as he walks in. A young man as tall as a mountain, slouched on the counter.
The legacy of Stokely Carmichael's contributions and achievements impacted the outcome of the African American Civil Rights movement to some extent. Before converting to militant means, Carmichael’s involvements in the non-violent organisations were a success, desegregating numerous facilities. Carmichael's conversion to aggressive means also brought hope to African Americans as many were frustrated at the minimal change. Carmichael, though, was able to increase black morale by popularising the term ‘Black Power.’ However, his violent ideas did not bring significant change in society as his alliance with the Black Panther Party stained the reputation of the African Americans and influenced the African Americans to launch riots.