Hope Captured in Pictures
Black History Month 2022: February 18 – The Black Panther Party
In celebration of Black History Month, this week I’m sharing stories behind some of my favorite pictures of the Black experience that encourage me to keep practicing hope.
Peace & Blessings,
Marcie Alvis-Walker
The Hope Embedded in The Black Panther Party
The Black Panthers created over 60 outreach programs for Black and oppressed communities. But their legacy is still misunderstood. Originally, the organization called itself The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. And it’s a reasonable name given the widespread violence against Black bodies in the country at the time, and the lack of resources in Black communities. They were not a militia who aimed to attack the government. They were a group of American citizens who sought to protect the unprotected and to empower the powerless.
Wide-spread oppression requires radical change – thus radical hope.
Black Panther Party: 10-Point Program
We want freedom. We want power to determine the destiny of our Black and oppressed communities.
We want full employment for our people.
We want an end to the robbery by the capitalists of our Black and oppressed communities.
We want decent housing, fit for the shelter of human beings.
We want decent education for our people that exposes the true nature of this decadent American society. We want education that teaches our true history and our role in the present-day society.
We want completely free health care for all Black and oppressed people.
We want an immediate end to police brutality and murder of Black people, other people of color, and oppressed people inside the United States.
We want an immediate end to all wars of aggression.
We want freedom for all Black and oppressed people now held in US federal, state, county, city and military prisons and jails. We want trials by a jury of peers for all persons charged with so-called crimes under the laws of this country.
We want land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice, peace and people’s community control of modern technology.
The Black Panther Party: Black Community Survival Conference, 1972
Community Community Survival Conference Flier
The Black Panther Party: Free Breakfast Program for School Children
The Black Panther Party: Child Development and Learning Centers
The Black Panther Party: Food Pantries and Food Co-Ops
The Black Panther Party: Security and Protection for Targeted Speakers and Activists
A 10-POINT BENEDICTION
May you be empowered by the Commander of Heaven’s Guard to help bring autonomy and freedom to our Black and oppressed communities.
May you be allied with the Giver of Good Gifts to bring forth the provision of full-time jobs for our Black neighbors, immigrants, and fellow oppressed citizens.
May you be aligned with the Redeeming One to end the corruption, pilfering and misappropriation of culture, labor, ideas and resources from Black and oppressed communities.
May you be enabled by the Sheltering God to gather methods and resources to provide decent and fair housing, fit for the shelter of human beings in Black and oppressed communities.
May you be inspired by the All-Knowing God to invest in equitable, inclusive, representational matters of education that embrace our full history in every academic institution.
May you be moved by the Healing One to be a source of life and not death, health and not sickness – and work towards free, accessible healthcare for all people, but most especially oppressed Indigenous communities and oppressed communities of color.
May you be strengthened by the Author of Life to stand against police brutality and the murder of Black people, other people of color, and oppressed people in the United States.
May you be captivated by the Spirit of God Reflected In All People to desire an immediate end to all wars of aggression.
May you be devoted to the God of Justice to plead a cry of freedom on behalf of all Black and oppressed people now held in US federal, state, county, city and military prisons and jails who have a right to be tried by a jury of their peers. And may you be equally devoted to fair and just laws that are without bias, prejudice, or bigotry against immigrants, the poor, and people of color.
May you be besotted with the God of All Creation to desire bread for every table, shelter and clothing for all people, education for all who long to learn, and opportunity, industry, justice and peace in all communities.
Amen
The film Judas and the Black Messiah opened my eyes regarding the true nature of the Black Panther organization & its focus on effecting positive change for marginalized people. What better example do we have of systemic racism in our country than the stated goals of this group and the way they were demonized & attacked by those we should be able to trust (the CIA, FBI, other government agencies, the major media, etc)? I live in Florida where the governor is actively trying to suppress true education. I feel somewhat powerless to effect change (our state government is in lock step with the governor). This feeling of powerlessness gives me a glimmer of the sense of oppression my black and brown sisters and brothers have been experiencing for centuries in America.