The Black Panther Party Isn't as Violent as You Think

IMG_1390Jacob, Ethan, Augustus and I joined with the Freedom of Speech group to see “Black Panther: Vanguard of the Revolution” at BAM theater in Brooklyn. This was a very thrilling and informative movie. The movie started with a metaphor; three blind men trying to figure with an elephant is. One feels the tusks and thinks it’s a spear, one feels the skin and thinks it’s a wall, and another feels the trunk and thinks it’s a snake. This represents how barely anyone knows what the Black Panther Party is really all about. I knew the BPP were both violent and supportive, but I didn’t know how violent and supportive. I learned the BPP first patrolled the streets making sure police didn’t kill or abuse black people since back then police were evern more aggressive and racist as they are now. They had an intimidating attitude and look that scared the police. The also started a “Black is Beautiful” campaign that encouraged black people having afros, cool leather jackets and being proud. They also had free breakfasts for children on school days. It wasn’t just a black people thing. Asian, Latino and white people supported them. The Vietnamese that were at the time against America supported them as well since the BPP was against America’s system and capitalism. Vietnam were also against America’s ways and were in a war with them; the Vietnam War. The BPP turned out to be pretty different from what I expected them to be. After leaving, I realized the BPP isn’t a group of terrorists, but a group of supportive people making sure America is safe against the police.