Founded in 1966 by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale, the Black Panther Party for Self Defense was a response to poverty and police brutality across the United States. At it’s core was the belief that capitalism is the antithesis of social justice — as outlined in the Ten Point Program. One of the most radical socialist efforts of the BPP was the development of the Free Breakfast Program, which made free breakfast available across the country where BPP chapters were in major cities; adopted as a federal program, this program provides free lunch in today’s school systems. The BPP is credited with over 35 Survival Programs to help the poor.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the BPP.