Black Panther Party’s 10 Point Plan

The Ten Point Plan (cont.)

7. WE WANT AN IMMEDIATE END TO

POLICE BRUTALITY AND MURDER

OF BLACK PEOPLE.

We believe we can end police brutality in our Black community by organizing Black self-defense groups that are dedicated to defending our Black community from racist police oppression and brutality. The Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States gives a right to bear arms. We therefore believe that all Black people should arm themselves for self- defense.

8. WE WANT FREEDOM FOR ALL BLACK

PEOPLE NOW HELD IN U. S.

FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, CITY AND

MILITARY PRISONS AND JAILS.

We believe that all Black people should be released from the many jails and prisons because they have not received a fair and impartial trial.

The Ten Point Plan (cont.)

9. WE WANT TRIALS BY A JURY OF PEERS

FOR All PERSONS CHARGED WITH

SO-CALLED CRIMES UNDER THE LAWS OF

THIS COUNTRY.

We believe that the courts should follow the United States Constitution so that Black people will receive fair trials. The Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution gives a man a right to be tried by his peer group. A peer is a person from a similar economic, social, religious, geographical, environmental, historical and racial background. To do this the court will be forced to select a jury from the Black community from which the Black defendant came. We have been, and are being, tried by all-White juries that have no understanding of the "average reasoning man" of the Black community.

10. WE WANT LAND, BREAD, HOUSING,

EDUCATION, CLOTHING, JUSTICE AND

PEACE.

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and nature's God entitle them, a decent respect of the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

The Ten Point Plan (cont.)

Bobby Seale

Seale was born on October 22, 1936, in Dallas Texas. He spent the majority of his life residing in California. After dropping out of high school for some time, he served in the US Army. Then, he became a student and got his degree at Merritt College. He found his passion for politics and sparked interest in implementing black studies on campus.

He then became a political activist and is one of the co-founders of the Black Panther Movement along with Huey Newton.

He wanted to be a change in the system and his work became geared towards radicalism. Unfortunately, he was convicted for riots conspiracy theory during the Democratic

National Convention. Seale did not have the option to choose his lawyer to represent him in court. This trial lasted for about six months. The rise of the Black Panther

Party lasted only for a while as Seale became less visible in the public eye upon his release from jail after being there for four years. Seale became more focus on improving the community socially and environmentally and stepped away from being involved in politics. 23

Huey Newton

Newton was born on February 17, 1942. He moved to Oakland at a very young age. He attended Merritt College and met his friend, Bobby Seale. Newton was very involved in the AfroAmerican Association in college. Huey and Bobby met in college. He later on received his bachelor’s in Social Philosophy at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Newton was inspired to initiate the Black Panther Movement because he noticed the present issues of police brutality and racism.

Newton spent two years in prison due to his conviction of “involuntary manslaughter” of a policeman. People protested because they believed that it was unfair and wanted justice for Newton. There was a huge campaign going on called “Free Huey” which helped freed Newton. After being released from prison, he quoted “You have the power and the power is with the people”. Newton died in 1989 due to a gunshot from a drug dispute.

Frederick Douglass

Douglass was born on February 1818 in Talbot County. His parents were not around and he mainly lived with his grandparents growing up. He was an abolitionist and was a slave and escaped successfully. His motto was “No Union with Slaveholders”. Douglass advocated for human equality, particularly for minorities. In addition, Douglass was an abolitionist.

Growing up, Douglass taught himself how to read and write. Hence, he wanted to help slaves be educated. He was the first African American man to be nominated to run for Vice President with Victoria Woodhull in 1872.

In his famous work was his autograph, “Narrative of Frederick Douglass” along with notable speeches such as “What to The Slave is Fourth of July?” made a huge influence in history. These text provides readers with a perspective of how it feels to be an African American and what kind of struggles they go through. This was impressive because he was able to write well about his life with limited formal education. In addition, Douglass is an advocate for women’s rights and his work is still relevant to many people’s lives today.