Black Panther History and Action Undergraduate

The point of this class is to engage the public (not limited to SF State) in civic and social responsibilities. We should eliminate the question "Why does nothing change?" by creating the answer: "I will do THIS to make change."

Lesson #1 - Why the Black Panthers failed.

Crack epidemic war on drugs incarceration.

The world had changed in as little as 20 years. The Panthers could not weather the storm.

Lesson #2 - Who were the Panthers, what did they seek to achieve? Why did they exist? Why did they come out of the 60's and not before or after? How did they work with other organizations and individuals at the time? Why aren't there anymore prominent socio political leaders?

Working middle-poor class.

Nation of Islam and Malcolm X

Martin Luther King Jr and SNCC

Stokely Carmichael

Lesson #3 - How do we know about the Black Panthers?

First Second Third Hand Information

The majority of Panthers have passed away.

A large amount are too old or too incarcerated.

What we have left is a few people like Emory Davis who continue to speak on their actions and mission.

And then the books which were left behind by members, individuals who observed the panthers, and the commentary

The Panthers have become somewhat legendary romanticized characters. Essentially, we view them as these freedom fighters who organized and rebelled against our governments and societies. They stole from the rich and fed the poor, so they were persecuted by our government to prevent Black power from gaining further momentum. Persecuted by the FBI, the CIA, Ronald Reagan; who gives a damn who did it, it was a bunch of evil bastards.

Lesson #4 - Are we capable of doing the same? Should we?

Now this is discussion. Consider the fact that the Black Panther Party leadership were moreorless working class, non-prestigue educated. These people did not go to Harvard. They were not rich