The director of the FBI called their feeding of hungry Black children “the greatest threat to internal security of the country,” and a “frightened” New York Times called them “antiwhite” and focused on their guns, not their platform or critiques of police brutality.
Black Panther leaders knew they had to get the truth out. How they did so changed journalism forever.
Their answer to biased mainstream news started small—a four-page, hand-typed newsletter called The Black Panther. The paper reported on police abuse, the Panther’s platform, global liberation struggles, and recruiting members.
It soon grew to become the most-read Black newspaper in the country. But it didn’t stop there.
It was also an economic empowerment tool—a sales person kept 40% of the sale price, giving decent jobs to thousands of under-employed Black people.
Though it was criticized for its radical stance, its significance and legacy were massive and continue today.
Today, many Black media organizations can’t be too radical—if advertisers get offended, they can pull their support!
The Black Panther refused to take advertising dollars, and remained completely independent to be true to the people. Instead it relied on sales and subscriptions.
Eventually, the FBI’s relentless sabotage killed the Party and the newspaper.
But Black-led media companies devoted to our people and Black liberation—like PushBlack—are still our people’s best source for truth in a racist system. It’s absolutely essential that we support Black media for Black liberation!