Definition: Founded in October 1966 in Oakland, California by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale, the Black Panther Party believed in arming for self-defense against police brutality. The Panthers also took on various responsibilities in the community. Wearing black leather jackets, blue shirts, black pants, and black berets, the Panthers patrolled the neighborhoods carrying weapons, recorders, and law books, taught black history, counseled welfare recipients, and protested rent evictions.
As the Black Panther Party grew and opened other chapters throughout the United States, the party also received media attention after it was involved in several shootouts with the police. One such shootout led to the arrest and conviction of Huey Newton for voluntary manslaughter. Newton's conviction was overturned in 1970.
From thereafter, the Panther's popularity declined. Newton and Seale left the party in the early 1970s. Elaine Brown served as the new leader. The Panther's disbanded in the early 1980s.
