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The Mangrove Restaurant was THE spot for Black people to gather in London, England. There was always excellent food, strong drinks, community, and incredible service. But there was something terribly wrong, too.
The police constantly raided the Mangrove, accusing the owner of selling drugs! And that’s despite the fact that NO drugs were ever found. The owner knew police weren’t doing this because of drugs. They were doing it to harass the Black owner and Black patrons! But something was about to change.
The Black population in Britain was growing rapidly. Several Black community leaders were inspired by the Black Panther Party in the U.S. What if they could create an organization like that, and help our people survive the racist system in England, too?
So that’s exactly what happened! The British Black Panther Party were inspired by the elements of justice, community organizing, self-sufficiency, and self-defense that the U.S. Panthers espoused, and used them to help protect their neighborhoods.
So what happened to the Mangrove Restaurant?
Community residents organized and fought the police in court! Law enforcement even admitted its cops were ingrained with racial hatred.
This confession helped begin the reforms that continue today. No matter where we live, Black people are part of a global community, and challenging global anti-Blackness requires global Black unity!