Black Panther Party Logo PNG
The Black Panther Party originated in 1966. African Americans Hugh Newton and Bobby Seale founded the left-wing radical party to promote and defend the civil rights and freedoms of black Americans. While the teachings of Martin Luther King offered a peaceful way to resolve racial differences, the Black Panthers advocated armed rebellion against social injustice.
Meaning and history
In the 1960s, the Black Panthers, a left-wing radical party that fought for black rights, emerged in the United States. It was formed by two activist students, Hugh Newton and Bobby Seale, a year after the Malcolm X murder. The name was chosen because the panther supposedly never attacks first, but is always ready to tear apart an opponent who has attacked it.
The party’s goals and philosophies changed over time, and its membership was heterogeneous. The leaders of the movement held revolutionary socialist views and promoted the philosophy of Maoism (Mao Zedong’s system of ideological attitudes). At the same time, the organization itself was systematically joined by supporters of other ideological and political currents, with the result that the official position of the party leaders often diverged from the views of the organization’s members.
Positions in the Black Panthers were designated in the manner of government positions. Bobby Seale became chairman and prime minister of the party, and Hugh Newton became minister of defense and was responsible for organizing black militants. One of the party’s objectives was to protect African American neighborhoods from police brutality.
Patrol teams went into predominantly African American neighborhoods and monitored for the slightest displays of disloyalty to people of color on the part of the police. Often, the Black Panthers would simply wheel their cars behind police patrols without breaking any traffic laws.
The party’s program consisted of 10 points, in which participants demanded “land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice and peace”. The Black Panthers also advocated for the exemption of black Americans from military service and decent working conditions.
The Black Panthers are known for several successful social initiatives. For example, in 1969, the party organized free hot breakfasts for African-American schoolchildren from poor families in Oakland. The free breakfast program gradually spread to 45 cities but was shut down in 1975 by the state.
The Black Panther Party was active from the mid-1960s through the 1970s. In 1969, the American police organized large-scale actions to destroy the party, as a result of which 28 leaders of the organization were killed and hundreds of rank-and-file members were arrested. The party was dissolved in 1982.
What is the Black Panther Party?
Black Panther Party is the name of an African-American activist party founded in 1966 in Oakland, California. The founders of the party were Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale. Initially, the party used militant methods as it was the only means to achieve the liberation of African Americans.
The Black Panther Party didn’t invent the wheel and just used an image of a black panther as its official logo, however, it worked just great. In addition to the memorable emblem, Black Panther Party members had a specific uniform – black leather jacket, blue shirt, black pants, and beret.
1966 – 1982
The black panther was chosen as the symbol of the movement. “The panther is a ferocious animal. However, it will never attack first unless it is cornered. In this case, the panther dashes,” this is how Hugh Newton explained this choice in one of his books.
The panther on the logo was drawn in all the readiness to attack or protect, according to the philosophy of the party. The wild cat in solid black had its sharp claws and fangs drawn very detailed, to make up a truly aggressive image.
Font and color
The logo of the Black Panther Party didn’t have any lettering in its primary version, as well as any color accents apart from black and white, which perfectly suited the image of the organization and its philosophy.
