I always had this vision of the Black Panthers as militant and violent.They were scary...intimidating.
Until I learned more about them...
Until I met them.
I didn't know about their 10-point program:
- We want freedom. We want power to determine the destiny of our Black Community
- We want full employment for our people.
- We want an end to the robbery by the capitalist of our Black community.
- We want decent housing, fit for the shelter of human beings.
- We want education for our people that exposes the true nature of this decadent american society. WE want education that teaches us our true history and our role in the present-day society.
- We want all black men to be exempt from military service.
- We want an immediate end to police brutality and murder of black people.
- We want freedom for all blck men held in federal, state, county and city prisons and jails.
- We want all black people when brought to trial to be tried in court by a jury of their peer group or people from their black communities, as defined by the Constitution of the United States.
- We want land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice and peace.
Today the New Black Panthers in Dallas still carry on some of those traditions. The picture above is a few of the New Black Panthers marching in last year's Immigration march.
Tonight I heard on the CBS 11 news (click here to see the report) that the New Black Panthers have stationed themselves at Lang middle school in the East Dallas/Pleasant Grove area because the school does not have school zones or crossing guards in critical areas around the school. The New Black Panthers are being the crossing guards for the kids until city hall meets so that they can petition city hall to put in school zones and crossing guards.
I respect and admire their efforts. They see a need and they come together to meet that need and, at the same time, work to create a long-term solution for the good of the community.
I think we all could take some tips from them about organizing and their care and concern for vulnerable communities.
Thank you, New Black Panthers.
6 comments:
Like so many other things we're often told how bad and evil some groups are so we won't listen and hear what they're really saying. Isn't it a shame?
Why would they want all black men released from prison? If that is true then everyone should be equal and no one in prison. Cannot agree with that? Neither can I agree that no black man should be in the armed services. Americans are Americans no matter what the color and all should be willing to fight for our freedom when needed. No one forces black men to join anymore than anyone else. I think we still have a volunteer military? But I do appreciate that these men are trying to make positive change in several areas.
In reading their 10-point plan, I think we need to think back to that time period. Black men were being taken to prison unjustly. Unfortunately, there are still inequitable practices when it comes to sending black men to prison...like the lighter sentencing for a cocaine charge (predominantly affecting white people) vs. a heavier charge for less possession of crack (predominantly affecting black people). While I agree that not everyone needs to be released from prison, I do think there are some systemic practices that unjustly affect the black community.
This also goes for the armed forces. The recruitment for the military is much heavier and more pronounced in urban and poor areas. Perhaps people make their own choices, but when the "choice" to serve happens because there is little hope to get ahead any other way...and when it happens with recruiters hounding them at their school, getting home addresses, and pursuing them knowing they're more vulnerable because they have less opportunities, there is an inequity that ends up sending more black and poor people to the military.
Janet-
You said, "In reading their 10-point plan, I think we need to think back to that time period." That 10 point plan is the current platform according to the website of the New Black Panthers: http://www.newblackpanther.com/10pointplatform.html
They want all black men and women to be exempt from paying taxes, from military service, and from imprisonment. Robert Sparks is accused of stabbing to death his girlfriend and her two sons. Then raping her two daughters and leaving them tied up and locked in a closet. If he's found guilty, the New Black Panthers want him to be freed because he will not have received a fair and impartial trial based solely on the fact that a white person will sit on his jury.
You mentioned inequitable practices when it comes to sending black men to prison. The argument you pointed to is disparities in sentencing when it comes to possession of powder cocaine vs. crack cocaine. Cocaine is cocaine. There is nothing on the books saying crack is more severe than powder. Whether I get caught with a gram of powder cocaine or a gram of crack cocaine I'm going to be charged with possession of one gram of a controlled substance which is a third degree felony in Texas (HSC 481.115) The same goes for one gram of methamphetamine which predominantly affects white people.
You spoke of recruitment in the military. How often do young people from Turner Courts or Rhodes Terrace volunteer for the armed forces when they turn 18? Now compare that number to the rural town in Missouri where you grew up. While it is true that a disproportionate amount of military recruits are from poor households, the records show that it is poor white people from the midwest and south that carry the rest of the country when it comes to military service. I joined the military straight out of high school because I wanted to. During my time in the military I never met a person who was forced to join. In earlier times black men had to fight hard just for the right to serve. And they weren't just relegated to grunt work. The Tuskeegee Airmen were some of the best fighter pilots this country has ever seen. But, they had to tolerate alot of injustice and alot of things changed because of their heroism. Nowadays the military is a model for the rest of society to follow, where all people of all races and genders work together for a common goal. The New Black Panthers would do away with all of that. They would prefer a society of only one race. They don't want equality, they want supremacy (Black Power!) They want segregation after so many people have suffered and died in the fight for equality and desegregation. They want national liberation in a separate territory. They are a racist organization no better than the KKK. Way to go New Black Panthers indeed.
By the way, are they still pulling crossing guard duty at that school or did they leave after the news cameras left? When I was a kid, teachers pulled that duty. What's wrong with that idea?
Everyday Citizen~
I'm so glad you posted. Your assumptions are like many I grew up with.
I'm guessing you don't know any New Black Panthers (NBP)...or maybe don't realize you know them. First, the NBP I know would be offended that you connect their 10-point plan with freeing people who have done something atrocious.
You quoted #8 of their 10-point plan about them being freed because they didn't receive an impartial trial. It's important to quote the rest of #8... which says,"‘Released’ means ‘released’ to the lawful authorities of the Black Nation." Then, please move on to #9, which states: "We want all Black People when brought to trial to be tried in a court by a jury of their peer group or people from their Black Communities, as defined by white law of the Constitution of the United States."
The way I read it, not at all are they saying that all black men should be free, but that they deserve the same right as everyone else...that they will have a trial of their peers. And if that doesn't happen, they ask that they take it into their own hands...from listening to some of them talk, I wouldn't doubt if that were a more harsh discipline than what our current structure would advocate for.
I have been to a New Black Panther meeting, which happened somewhat by accident. I will expose my own prejudice by saying after I got over the shock of showing up to a meeting where many of the members were dressed in black, complete with berets and military boots just like in the 60s (no guns), I was extremely impressed by the tone of the gathering. They were focused on holding "their own" accountable.
As for the school crossing guards, if you live in Dallas, I'm sure you know that crossing guards are *not* teachers. It is a common fact that crossing guards are hired to make sure the children are safe. The Black Panthers are taking up that slack at a school where the administration evidently failed to put them in place. The press is gone, but the NBP are still there. I talked to a student on Saturday. She said they've been there about 2 weeks now.
I will admit, I still struggle to understand some of the separation beliefs of the NBP...or other Black friends of mind. In my mind, I understand the rationale, but in my heart I want things to be better...and justice to be adequate so that we don't have to be separate to be equal.
Once again, I thank you for your post. You have brought out many assumptions and stereotypes that need to be addressed. I have spoken to a friend of mine and may do a blog specifically about the NBP so that they can speak and we aren't speaking for them or making assumptions about them. Stay tuned!
Uh, I can't take them seriously when they start wanting rights "as defined in the Constitution" that don't exist in the constitution. There is no right to a trial by your peers, since that is an artifact of English Common Law where there were different, legal classes (nobility and subjects.)
The Constitution is clear: "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed..." That is exactly how every jury has been picked in America for the last 200 years.
It makes it very hard not to dismiss them completely when their own platform is based on a (willful?) misinterpretation of plain English.
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