Black History Organization of the Month
Posted on 08. Feb, 2010 by russ in Op-Ed, [Inter]national
Black history month is checkered with many organizations that have contributed to, the development and progress of Blacks in the United States of America. Flagship organizations such as the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) and the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Organization), were pioneers in the legislative and social fields of the civil rights movement.
To me the organization that is perhaps the most misunderstood and perhaps the least appreciated is the Black Panther Party, which was established in 1966 for the self-defense of black people and to develop a politically conscious community. The community programs that the Black Panthers established, during their most active and effective years as an organization, have been adopted and replicated as a model for others who wanted to make sustainable community change. From today’s local coat drives to government breakfast programs, the Panthers have not received credit for successful programs that other organizations have modeled from their blueprint. For the sake of time, I would like to focus on two of these programs: the Community Learning Center and the Black Student Alliance.
The initial idea behind the Community Learning Center was to establish a multi-faceted institution that would provide progressive, educational, social and institutional activities. The idea was to establish a community center for the self-improvement of the community and raise both cultural and historical awareness. The community centers offered classes that focused on but were not limited to, women’s self defense, consumer awareness, dance and adult education. The centers relied primarily on fundraising and donations with the intention of keeping classes accessible for the community.
The second organization I would like to discuss is the Black Student Alliance. Though many college campuses have black student organizations, many have not been informed of how they were created. The Black Student Alliance in the Bay Area was formed in 1972, with the purpose of creating a connection between the community and black college students as well serving the needs of the Black student population. The programs Black Student Alliances created dealt with topics such as: child care, financial aid, free books, transportation, nutritious food at fair prices and the demand for relevant course work and instructors. Some of the pressure that was created by this student organization led to the founding of African and African-American study programs, as well as the beginning of diversity in faculty hiring.
This is only a snippet of what the Black Panthers provided. For more Information please check out The Black Panther Party: Service to The People’s Programs by David Hillard
