Black Panther Movement

I never have ever been taught anything about the Black Panther movement- not in elementary school, middle or high school. I can honestly say that I have never been educated ever about this group, and I have never really known who Malcolm X was besides the fact that he was the leader of the movement.

It's from outside sources like TV shows, films, documentaries, and word of mouth of where I have heard about the Panthers. Even when I went on my Civil Rights Pilgrimage, we never really spoke about the Black Panthers. We focused mainly on the non-violent movement.

I am glad I was shown the film in class because it really, really solidified and expanded this idea I had in my mind about what this particular activist group consisted of. I didn't know that they were so militant-- with the marching, the black leather jackets and hats tipped to the side, the guns that they bared. Guns they they would have out in the open to threaten authority-- kids who were holding them. It's a really good way to get your point across, "Here, I have a gun. I am threatening. Look at me, NOW." You know what I mean? I suppose I am saying this sarcastically.

I think that most of the Black Panthers aspirations were true and definitely respectable, but the way in which they tried to achieve those was totally the wrong way to go about doing it. Yes, I am bias because I think weapons and fighting and all that really isn't worth it in the end., but I also think that this is pretty much a factual truth.

Seeing Malcom X speak on the videos we were shown in class almost made me blush a little. He was this handsome man, but yet so manipulating in a way. The fact that he could turn every interviewer's question around in his haunting demeanor really made me feel like he was a man of mystery. Sometimes I wonder how some people truly impact others with have such power, reign, and force with the words they speak and ideas they try to live by.  After watching that video, I can see why many people looked up to this articulate phenomenon of a man.

ALL IN ALL,
I felt like the black people of the Black Panther movement were just done, fed up with this countries unfairness, the highly corrupted government and skewed actions that took place that overwhelmed their lives. It's like the day they were born they had been told they are not good enough and wore an invisible cloak called racism. Racism as people were looking at them, racism seen in every institution they were every going to be a part of, and the government- the "thing" that creates and determines the laws, access, what your freedom will actually be in your current choice or maybe it's not your choice, but of where you are living.  That cloak grew heavy and it's the young people that wanted to make a change because they were going to be damned if they never said anything or fought for something that could change not only their lives, but the younger generations that followed.

This movement was real, it was empowering for those involved, and the government took any precautions they could before it got too bedazzled and out of hand- hence the heroin involved that they tried to get members of the movement addicted to.

Even though the movement eventually failed and was disconnected to it's purpose, I think what they achieved was still incredible.