Point of Views
With beneficial programs under way, the Black Panther Party could garner support. On the other hand, even though the BPP was assisting needy communities, they had enemies as well. The main two points of view regarding the Black Panther Party were between the US government and the African American communities. Those who were for the Black Panther party consisted mostly of African American youth and a small portion of white youth in America. A majority of African American youth supported the Black Panther Party since they were tired of being harassed continuously by the police. “In 1966, a survey carried out in America showed that less than 5% of African- Americans approved of groups such as the BPP.”[15] This is due to these African Americans not supporting the violence that the Black Panther Party brought with them. The Black Panther Party continued to carry out their goals to give a voice to those who were oppressed from the US government. Although many Americans were not in support of how the Black Panther Party went about, there was still a good amount of support from the youth of America that kept them to continue with what they were doing. Those who were entirely against the Black Panther Party were the FBI and the police. The Black Panther party had many fights with the police and the FBI are accused of forging letters that would bring conflict between the leaders of the Black Panther Party. Edgar J. Hoover, who was the head of the FBI, even said that the Black Panther Party was “the greatest threat to the internal security of the country.”[16] Hoover even went as far as instructing the FBI to “submit imaginative and hard hitting” counterintelligence measures that were specifically aimed to destroy the Black Panther Party.[17] In contrast to the programs that the Black Panther Party created, the Great Society programs believed in helping those in need without engaging in violent actions. Although the Black Panther Party believed that aggressive tactics were necessary to bring change for African Americans, many people supported the programs that they developed which continue to influence social programs of the present.
[15] Cole Lewis and David Hilliard, 2001. This Side of Glory: The Autobiography of David Hilliard and the Story of the Black Panther Party. Chicago: Lawrence Hill Books.
[16] History Learning Site. “The Black Panthers.” Accessed December 8, 2013. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/black_panthers.htm
[17] Harris, Jessica Christina. “Revolutionary Black Nationalism: The Black Panther Party.” The Journal of Negro History, Vol 85, No. 3(Summer, 2000): 169. Accessed December 8, 2013.
[15] Cole Lewis and David Hilliard, 2001. This Side of Glory: The Autobiography of David Hilliard and the Story of the Black Panther Party. Chicago: Lawrence Hill Books.
[16] History Learning Site. “The Black Panthers.” Accessed December 8, 2013. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/black_panthers.htm
[17] Harris, Jessica Christina. “Revolutionary Black Nationalism: The Black Panther Party.” The Journal of Negro History, Vol 85, No. 3(Summer, 2000): 169. Accessed December 8, 2013.