The Black Panther Party: Service to the People Programs

by Huey P. Newton Foundation, David Hilliard (Editor), Cornel West (Forward)

"The Black Panther Party" represents Black Panther Party members' coordinated responses over the last four decades to the failure of city, state, and federal bureaucrats to address the basic needs of their respective communities. The Party pioneered free social service programs that are now in the mainstream of American life.

The Party's Sickle Cell Anemia Research Foundation, operated with Oakland's Children's Hospital, was among the nation's first such testing programs. Its Free Breakfast Program served as a model for national programs. Other initiatives included free clinics, grocery giveaways, school and education programs, senior programs, and legal aid programs.

Published here for the first time in book form, "The Black Panther Party" makes the case that the programs' methods are viable models for addressing the persistent, basic social injustices and economic problems of today's American cities and suburbs.

Genres: History, Race, Politics, Nonfiction

170 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Allyn R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

overall a detailed and thought-provoking account of the black panther party's social programs with some additional excerpts from various members of the black panther party. the first half is primarily about the social programs, which span everything from free breakfast to pest removal and are described clearly & concisely, while the second half contains more miscellaneous bits (elimination of the presidency, "people's art", and book excerpts). particularly interesting to me was the transcription of a speech by emory douglas in the third part, called "art for the people's sake". there's a ton in it that i agree with but the part about whether we judge art by the motives of the author or the effect it has resonated especially strongly with me.

5/5, would definitely recommend to others.

[Tony Crispin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was cool and practical, but more importantly, serves as a lesson. The lesson here is for all these bitchmade terminally online left wings people that live to bitch and moan about systemic injustice while also claiming that there is nothing that we can do about it. So what then? Just roll over and die? The Black Panthers acknowledged their place in the nations history, understood they were disadvantaged and exploited in every possible way, but organized themselves and what little they had and made bright futures for their communities. They didn’t sit around all day whining about the ramifications of this program or the futility of fighting an already-stacked deck. No, they made real change for real people. The Panthers disbanded in 1982 but can anyone really say that their mission failed? Was it all for nothing? In my opinion, no. They (and this book) can serve as a model for future campaigns of community service and organizing pending revolution. I know I certainly will be following in their guidance. I just hope my contemporaries and I can dodge the assassination attempts this time.

[Sheha · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite thing about this book, by far, is how accessibly it is written and formatted. There are many learnings to be derived from this book, but perhaps the biggest of all is in the delivery of the book itself. The book is short, an easy read, with accessible language that effectively breaks down and explains social justice concepts (that are normally very academic in nature and thereby inaccessible to the very people whose lives it affects) to the reader through demonstration, even going as far as to quantify the number of volunteers and professionals required to replicate the programs in your own communities.

Many humanitarians and social justice agents often forget about the Hierarchy of Needs when serving their communities. Before the oppressed can break free of their chains and begin to criticize the systems which they have accepted their entire lives, think critically and problem solve to improve their lives, uplift themselves from poverty, defend themselves and their communities, and confidently execute their vision for their own lives - we must address their fundamental needs. This is why the BPP programs were referred to as "survival programs". We cannot expect the oppressed to move on to Love and acceptance (of community, of self, of identity and one's origins/history), esteem (the confidence to execute and to use your skills to help others), and eventually self actualization (complete liberation from the chains of the oppressor, and attaining Black power), one must first graduate from the physiological and safety requirements at the bottom of their pyramid.

Power to the People. 5/5 stars!

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really inspiring to read, especially during this time. The programs are ambitious and the number that they brought into existence (to the point that generations today remember their families receiving groceries, remember getting hot breakfasts) is impressive. The BPP survival programs are an example of how strong communities make policing obsolete.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of proposals and descriptions of the Black Panther Party's service to the people programs from the late 1960s and early 70s. I had heard of some of these programs before but was impressed to see how thorough and how many they were. The Sickle Cell Research program was one of the first testing programs in the country and the free breakfast program was a model for national programs. There is so much good sense and caring here. Actually, we could use the good sense and caring in just about any community in the country right now. We could learn from this if we but will.
Of particular interest was the proposal for the elimination of the offices of president and vice president, written when Nixon was president. Part one is titled Survival Pending Revolution. Part three includes songs and poems, the last part book excerpts. There is some very relevant history here.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved - super accesible book and a comprehensive breakdown of BPP social programs. Amazing to read more about how these programs were originally executed and funded. The second half of the book includes excerpts from speeches and books by BPP members, a lot of which commented on the need to dismantle systems of oppression, the presidency, and return to a grassroots/local system of organizing and collective action. Having these excerpts alongside the analysis of BPP social programs emphasized that this type of revolution has been executed. More than that, the legacy of BPP programs persists to this day through free clinics, school meal programs, etc. The revolution happened, is happening, and black leaders have shown us it can be done and have left blueprints to model future public programs after. Community care and collective liberation. Amazing book, I hope everyone reads it 💗

[Gavin Volker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book is an easy 5 stars. Mutualism by Sara Horowitz provides the concepts of helping your own community and this book provided an outline about how to actually do it. Some of these services take a while to get operating but some of them, you can literally go out and start within a week. You don't even need to start a new program, at least go volunteer somewhere. Help your community. Far too many people have defeatist attitudes and think "oh I can't change anything" while this book is historical evidence that you can. Raise your community's consciousness of the issues plaguing them by showing them what it's like to have their needs provided for. This is such an easy book to read so I think you should.

[Gladys Maritza Aguilar Vital · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking to know more in depth about the Black Panther Party, most definitely recommended!

[Kie · Rating 5 out of 5]

so accessible! so inspiring! read this!

[Ernesto Aguilar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Offered by the Huey P. Newton Foundation, with David Hilliard as editor, The Black Panther Party goes beyond the headlines to relate the ways rank-and-file party members did projects like the BPP's famed Free Breakfast for Schoolchildren Program and other service work. The Panthers' approach to social service as a means of starting a political conversation within communities has been explored thoroughly over the years, but how those programs were actually implemented is oftentimes forgotten.

Fair credit for this book must go to Editor David Hilliard, former BPP Chief of Staff, newspaper principal, Newton Foundation and party co-founder and collaborator on nearly a dozen Panther-oriented books and media initiatives. In Hilliard's hands, The Black Panther Party is magical because it avoids treading on where other books have been. Like This Side of Glory, Hilliard's superb memoir of his Panther years, you get to discover what made the BPP such a magnetic force in the Black community -- its desire to put the "serve the people" slogan to daily practice, and its willingness to do so in innovative, non-dogmatic ways. The Black Panther Party shares grassroots organizing campaign details without the internal drama that marked some of Glory and other books available. It also dishes on some of the less-than-sexy details, for which the Panthers are far less appreciated.

If you have read any of the scores of texts about the BPP or seen any of the DVDs documenting the organization, unflagging radicalism and firebrand politics are what you pretty much expect. Newton and party stalwarts were ideologues in many respects and did not shy away from examinations of Marxism, capital and Black oppression. The Black Panther Party is an ingenuous release because it tells the Panthers' story in a way few other books have and likely could. It's the purely pedestrian action items that prove to be a delight. Where else might you discover the People's Free Pest Control Program cost $12,776.10 to set up? Or find the BPP's blueprint for winning local elections as well as its Position Paper on the Elimination of the Offices of President and Vice President? How many people remember plans for Son of Man Temples as an ecumenical agitation tool? Popular and more obscure programs getting space makes The Black Panther Party engrossing.

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outline of the social service programs started by the Black Panther Party, this book places an emphasis on community, the needs of the people, and the actionable items identified by a select few who got tired of waiting for the government to step up. A very refreshing divergence from the typical representations of the BPP in media. I'd highly recommend it.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

"We understood that in order to transform society it was first necessary to survive economic and
social oppression."

[Susan Hudson]

POWERFUL. FORGOT THIS STUFF GLAD TO BE RE~ENLIGHTENED*