It was June 1967, and car whizzed by the intersection of Market and 55th streets in Oakland, California. LIttle Black kids kept getting HIT while crossing the street – some were even killed! What could be done?
A group of college students, members of the newly-formed Black Panther Party, demanded that Oakland City Council install a traffic light. But just like today, the authorities didn’t care about Black kids. It would take at least a year to get that done, they claimed. During that year, more children would be injured or killed! So what did the Panthers do?
If their city wouldn’t help, they’d walk the kids across the street themselves – armed with guns! And of course, Oakland wasn’t too happy about Black, gun-toting crossing guards.
Suddenly, it looked like it wouldn’t take a year to get the traffic light after all! On August 1, 1967, installation started. And the children stopped dying.
The Black Panthers' first action should be an inspiration for our communities today. They saw a problem, recognized that authorities were incompetent by design, and found a solution – by any means necessary.
Many party members were murdered or are still incarcerated. So, it’s our job to continue their work! The Panthers are a reminder that there is always a way.