PushBlack is a website that offers uplifting stories from Black history to inspire people to take liberated actions for the benefit of Black communities. One such story was called “The History Behind Huey Newton’s Most Iconic Photo.” It referred to the image of the Black Panther co-founder sitting on a peacock chair wearing a black coat and beret. He was holding a shotgun in his right hand and a spear in his left, with two African shields leaning against the wall.
PushBlack said, “The photo created the exact effect the Black Panther Party wanted. It became a symbol of Blackness, community, and resistance and defiance of white violence.” It reminded Black people “that their strength was in unity and self-defense.”
The original Black Panther Party (1966–1982) also established free breakfast programs for children, health clinics, food pantries, transportation assistance, and adult literacy classes. Original Black Panther members believed that their social programs were more vital than their encouragement of armed resistance to police brutality. However, after the Black Panther Party was officially disbanded, the next generation was drawn to iconic images of armed struggle against “the system” and favored that over social work.
For instance, in 1998, White supremacists dragged Black man James Byrd Jr. three miles behind a pickup vehicle in Jasper, Texas. Byrd’s death was officially described as a lynching-by-dragging. This incident sparked as much outrage in Black communities as the Rodney King beating seven years prior. Members of the New Black Panther Party gained national attention when they appeared in Jasper to provide security for the Byrd family.
The New Black Panther Party was founded in the early 1990s but was later taken over by an ex-Nation of Islam member. In Jasper, they marched about with guns and got into a fight with white supremacists. On election day in 2008, the New Panthers regained national headlines when they stood in front of a Philadelphia voting center to “provide security against voter intimidation.” One of the New Panthers wielded a police-style baton, yet it was the New Panthers that were accused of intimidating voters.
These publicity stunts, combined with subsequent marches and melees, prompted the remaining members of the original organization to condemn the New Black Panther Party. Bobby Seale, co-founder of the original organization, described the New Panthers’ language as xenophobic and absurd. Seale also argued that the New Panthers were unconcerned about developing social initiatives in communities, implying that they failed to carry on the original organization’s actual mission.
In 2002, an event was held in Washington, D.C., to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the founding of the original Black Panther Party. Several original members attended, but the ceremony was disrupted by 30 members of the New Black Panther Party, who “ordered” the original members to stop openly criticizing them or face severe consequences.
The Southern Poverty Law Center reported that in 2015, two members of the original organization attended a New Panthers meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. The original members accused them of hijacking the legacy of the Black Panther Party. The New Panthers assaulted the original members. Following the assault, Elbert Howard, one of the original organization’s founding members, described the New Panthers as a reactionary group led by thugs.
It is critical to remember the schism that split the original organization in the early 1970s. Faction A believed The Black Panthers had made their point by demonstrating they were a self-defense movement, but they needed to prioritize winning seats on city councils and expanding community programs. Faction B rejected those ideas as “reformist” rather than “revolutionary.” Faction B advocated open conflict with the powers that oppress Black communities. Faction B became the Black Liberation Army, while Faction A remained the Black Panther Party.
Therefore, any new group claiming to be Black Panthers who are dressed like Huey Newton’s iconic portrait while displaying guns is not carrying on the legacy of faction A; rather, they are copying faction B.
For instance, at a recent anti-ICE protest in Philadelphia, a group appeared on the scene dressed like Huey Newton and, of course, carrying guns. Their spokesperson claimed that the group was a direct continuation of the original organization but “more aggressive.” The spokesperson advocated for the abolition of ICE and for the need to protect immigrants.
However, the comment that drew the most media attention was when the spokesperson declared that if an ICE agent “ran up on him,” he would “put a hole in their chest the size of a window.” He further stated, “Those who serve the public should be fearful of the public.”
This brief protest appearance went viral.
Those who opposed ICE welcomed the Philadelphia Panthers for joining the fight against Trump’s authoritarianism, but those who continue the work of the original organization called them imposters.
The chairman of the San Diego chapter of the Black Panther Party issued a statement informing the public that they do not endorse, support, or agree with the “foolish rhetoric” from the spokesperson in Philadelphia. The chairman remarked that encouraging armed violence and making open-ended threats is not the proper Panther approach. More importantly, the chairman stated that the spokesperson’s violent rhetoric “will get people killed” and “plays into the hands of oppressive forces, granting them ammunition needed to attack actual Black Panthers that are committed to the serious and just actions of raising consciousness and empowering people to make progressive change.”
Huey Newton once said, “The task is to transform society; only the people can do that—not heroes, not celebrities, and not stars.”
And not New Panthers or copycats.
