The Black Panther Party: Crash Course Black American History #39

Many organizations have made it their mission to expand the rights of Black Americans. The NAACP and the Urban League are examples of influential organizations with long histories. But a long history or extensive membership isn't always necessary to have an impact. Today, we'll learn about the Black Panthers. They were a relatively small, relatively short-lived political party that had an outsized impact on US history.

Sources and References
Peniel E. Joseph, Waiting ’ Til the Midnight Hour: A Narrative History of Black Power in America (New York: Henry Holt, 2006).
Malcolm X, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, With the assistance of Alex Haley (New York: Ballantine, 1992).
Manning Marable, Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention (New York: Viking Press, 2011).
Ilyasah Shabazz, Growing up X: A Memoir by the Mother of Malcolm X (Penguin, 2003).
Robyn Spencer, The Revolution Has Come: Black Power, Gender, and the Black Panther Party in Oakland (Duke University Press, 2016).

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[elchapojunior]

Next time the American government lectures you about “oppressive” countries, remember what they did to Fred Hampton

[vampmoon]

I never learned about this in school, and I've only heard negative things about them, which I was always highly suspicious of. They helped the disability rights activists in the 1970s. I'm so greatful to finally be learning about them. Thank you crash course!!!

[ruairihair]

This is really one of the best series on YouTube. Thanks for all the hard work

[comcat]

I'm really glad that a black historian was the one to discuss this movement, good job crash course

[javierjimene]

LOVE IT, I’M MEXICAN BUT RAISED PART OF MY LIFE IN A BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD, LOVE BLACK CULTURE, LOVE BLACK HISTORY LIKE IT IS MY OWN ❤👊🏽

[davetoms]

Fantastic video. Thank you for sharing. The Black Panthers may not have been perfect. But it's frustrating that the government spent so much time, energy, and money on furthering the oppression of the Black community and suppressing the Black Panthers rather than fix the inequities and fight the injustices that gave rise to the organization in the first place. Had the Black community been granted the most basic rights of Justice and Equality from the Government and from the Police, perhaps the group would never have formed.

[Word-Smithy]

I love this series and the fact that you have a 360 approach to each chapter -- versus romanticizing the movement in this case -- you simply tell the untold stories, state all the facts and events (good, bad and ugly), and illustrate the impact they have have had. Thank you.

[LordJudgement]

My auntie was a black panther back in the day.

[samelangang]

A black man on Crash Course now?!?! I’m late or this been going on? I haven’t locked in with this since high school. This is so dope!!🖤

[pongop]

Amazing video! I was fortunate to meet Bobby Seale when he spoke at my community college. I have his signed copy of Size The Time on a shelf beside me. He was a great storyteller and very funny.

[MidnightsLive]

Crash Course is the single most important thing on the internet. I learned more from John Green than my entire matriculation....including the word matriculation.

[aaronzre]

These courses are my saving grace for my civil rights exams

[richardnzekwue]

I love crash course so much, keep it up

[seanarmstrong]

They chose the perfect person to narrate this series. Impressive.

[grapeshot]

There's so much misinformation about the Black Panthers out there.

[MrOuija-rrkq]

I’m glad it’s not another white guy telling me about the black panthers here on YouTube.

[dassinefaye]

Panther Cub here, my Dad, David Hilliard was Chief of Staff. He seems to be left out here, nevertheless this was some what accurate accounts. Eldridge was an FBI agent, so many stories untold. 🖤🖤💪🏾💪🏾✊🏾

[Apeshaft]

Sweden here... I must say that I found this to be extremly more interesting than I would have imagined!

[gamerwolf]

Any chance we will get an episode on so-called "blacksploitation" movies? I think it's a fascinating part of both black and film history

[Midnightrider]

Disability rights would never had came to fruition if not for the help of the black panthers.
That includes service connected veterans, and so thank you.