The Government's Response and Reaction to the BPP
The Black Panther Party formed in the 1960s as a form to unite the black community and deal with the oppression they faced. The party was formed by influential leaders, Huey Newton and Bobby Seal, in 1966. Some of the goals of the party were freedom, having basic necessities such as clothing, housing, and education as well as others. Despite their optimistic goals, the United States' government did not agree with the party and quickly reacted to it. According to the PBS web page on J. Edgar Hoover, who was the Federal Bureau of Investigations Director, he declared that, “the Black Panther Party, without question, represents the greatest threat to internal security of the country"; he pledged that 1969 would be the last year of the Party's existence.”[1] In an effort to “neutralize” the party and similar organizations, the FBI launched a counterintelligence program known as COINTELPRO.
Even though the BPP made many attempts to uplift and unite their community the FBI didn't agree with them. According to Brame and Shriver the FBI saw the party “as a violent, extremist group and a threat to national security.”[2] The FBI successfully painted a negative image of the party by reporting their violent acts through the use of negative language.[3] One example is how the BPP aided the black community with many welfare campaigns, specifically through their Breakfast for Children Program. The FBI believed these programs and aids were “communist-inspired” and an “infiltration.” In reality, the government possibly felt that these organizations were accomplishing tasks that the own government did not. Besides their programs another major threat to the government was the BPP's use of guerrilla tactics and arming of ordinary citizens and party members.
As a result of the government's views of the BPP, the FBI acted against the party through the COINTELPRO. The FBI reacted by collecting information on the party through the surveillance of the BPP, by attacking the party, and by creating conflicts.[4] In order to effectively act against the party the FBI first gathered useful information on the party and it's members which it would then use. The FBI and police force attacked the party on numerous occasions, one example, is the murder of Fred Hampton. According to the FBI, they opened fire after shots were fired from BPP members. However, it was found that this information was false, Hampton was murdered by the FBI who fired first. The agents involved were later tried in court but their charges were dismissed. Other tactics the FBI employed were harassing members and creating conflicts amongst each other. For instance, the FBI made false phone calls and created and distributed false letters and literature.[5] This all contributed to the downfall of the party.
The Black Panther Party was very influential during it's time and quickly increased in numbers due to its appeal. However, the US government did not think highly of the party. The FBI quickly responded and eventually aided in bringing the party to an end. Current and future social movements and parties would benefit tremendously from studying those of the past such as the BPP. Such studies are beneficial because a party can be more effective when attempting to create change.
Even though the BPP made many attempts to uplift and unite their community the FBI didn't agree with them. According to Brame and Shriver the FBI saw the party “as a violent, extremist group and a threat to national security.”[2] The FBI successfully painted a negative image of the party by reporting their violent acts through the use of negative language.[3] One example is how the BPP aided the black community with many welfare campaigns, specifically through their Breakfast for Children Program. The FBI believed these programs and aids were “communist-inspired” and an “infiltration.” In reality, the government possibly felt that these organizations were accomplishing tasks that the own government did not. Besides their programs another major threat to the government was the BPP's use of guerrilla tactics and arming of ordinary citizens and party members.
As a result of the government's views of the BPP, the FBI acted against the party through the COINTELPRO. The FBI reacted by collecting information on the party through the surveillance of the BPP, by attacking the party, and by creating conflicts.[4] In order to effectively act against the party the FBI first gathered useful information on the party and it's members which it would then use. The FBI and police force attacked the party on numerous occasions, one example, is the murder of Fred Hampton. According to the FBI, they opened fire after shots were fired from BPP members. However, it was found that this information was false, Hampton was murdered by the FBI who fired first. The agents involved were later tried in court but their charges were dismissed. Other tactics the FBI employed were harassing members and creating conflicts amongst each other. For instance, the FBI made false phone calls and created and distributed false letters and literature.[5] This all contributed to the downfall of the party.
The Black Panther Party was very influential during it's time and quickly increased in numbers due to its appeal. However, the US government did not think highly of the party. The FBI quickly responded and eventually aided in bringing the party to an end. Current and future social movements and parties would benefit tremendously from studying those of the past such as the BPP. Such studies are beneficial because a party can be more effective when attempting to create change.
Notes
1.“Hoover and the F.B.I.,” PBS, accessed April 30, 2014, http://www.pbs.org/hueypnewton/people/people_hoover.html.
2. Wendy J. Brame and Thomas E. Shriver, “ The National-Local Interface of Social Control: The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Winston-Salem Branch of the Black Panther Party,” Journal Of Political & Military Sociology 36, no. 2 (Winter2008 2008): 247-268, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed April 30, 2014).
3. Ibid.
4. John Drabble, "Fighting Black Power-New Left coalitions: Covert FBI media campaigns and American cultural discourse, 1967–1971,"European Journal Of American Culture 27, no. 2 (June 2008): 65-91, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed April 30, 2014).
5. Ibid.
1.“Hoover and the F.B.I.,” PBS, accessed April 30, 2014, http://www.pbs.org/hueypnewton/people/people_hoover.html.
2. Wendy J. Brame and Thomas E. Shriver, “ The National-Local Interface of Social Control: The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Winston-Salem Branch of the Black Panther Party,” Journal Of Political & Military Sociology 36, no. 2 (Winter2008 2008): 247-268, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed April 30, 2014).
3. Ibid.
4. John Drabble, "Fighting Black Power-New Left coalitions: Covert FBI media campaigns and American cultural discourse, 1967–1971,"European Journal Of American Culture 27, no. 2 (June 2008): 65-91, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed April 30, 2014).
5. Ibid.