3 Programs Launched By The Black Panther Party
The Black Panther party had many community driven initiatives. The party established dozens of programs that helped thousands.
Here are just 3 programs started by the Black Panther Party
1. Free Breakfast for Children Program
One of the most notable organizations the Black Panthers created the free breakfast program was a community service run initiative that began in 1969.
At the time reduced lunch was available to students but there were often children whose parents could not afford that and would often go hungry.
To solve this problem and help the children thrive in school the Black Panthers launched the People’s Free Breakfast Program where students could get free breakfast before school in a safe environment.
This program expanded so quickly; they opened the second program location in two months and in 1971 they had 34 program locations Nationwide.
They fed thousands of kids a day and helped them stay focused in school instead of being too hungry to focus
Bonus: Along with the free breakfast program they also had a free grocery program . Think food banks. Where they would give away pre-prepared grocery bags for families to pick up.
The community was provided with bags of fresh food containing items such as eggs, canned fruits and vegetables, chickens, milk, potatoes, rice, bread, cereal, and so forth. A minimum of a week’s supply of food was included in each bag
2. The People’s free Walk in clinics
The Black Panther Party established the People’s Free Medical Clinics (PFMCs) in the late 1960s and early 1970s to combat systemic medical discrimination many black and oppressed people faced daily and provide neglected Black communities with adequate health care as stated in their revised 10 Point Program.
Excerpt from the 10 Point Program:
WE WANT COMPLETELY FREE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL BLACK AND OPPRESSED PEOPLE
We believe that the government must provide, free of charge, for the people, health facilities which will not only treat our illnesses, most of which have come about as a result of our oppression, but which will also develop preventive medical programs to guarantee our future survival
bppaln.org
The clinic was run solely by volunteers, who did things like schedule licensed doctors, all of whom were also volunteers, and to staff clinic hours.
The clinic itself pioneered screening for genetic disorders (such as sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, or G6PD) that affected primarily people with African descent. Along with physical exams they also rendered first aid to those in need.
The Winston-Salem, North Carolina, clinic even had a free ambulance service.
3. Seniors Against a Fearful Environment (SAFE)
SAFE was a non-profit organization established by the Black Panther Party. When a group of senior residents asked the Black Panthers to launch the organisation to help seniors learn self-defense techniques to prevent robberies, muggings and other attacks on seniors.
Particularly when they went out to cash their Social Security or pension checks These seniors had originally approached the Oakland police department to provide additional patrols and protection but some were told to “stand closer to the curb” to keep themselves safe according to a Panther report by David Hilliard, who served as the Party’s chief of staff.
The program offered free transportation and escort services to the residents of the Satellite Senior Homes, a residential complex for the elderly in Oakland, California which allowed seniors to conduct banking transactions more safely
Key Takeaways
The Black Panther Party had many controversies but it is clear they had a positive effect on the world and worked to protect the members in the communities that faced disadvantages and hardships on a daily basis.
The success of the Black Panther Party’s Free Breakfast for Children program helped reduce hunger and food insecurity in local communities, while pressuring state and federal governments to expand their own services
