The Black Panther Get together was broadly recognized in its time for its free breakfast program and newspaper, however lots of the group’s different 65 group survival applications have been traditionally missed.
So in honor of Black Historical past Month and the thirtieth anniversary of the Dr. Huey P. Newton Basis, a number of former occasion members got here to inform their tales on the opening of the Black Panther Get together Museum’s “Survival Pending Revolution: The Black Panther Party Service to the People Programs” exhibition final week in downtown Oakland.
Fredrika Newton, widow of Dr. Huey P. Newton, artist Gayle “Asali” Dickson, chief doctor Tolbert Small and Billy X Jennings, a private aide to Dr. Newton and David Hilliard, have been available to teach the general public in regards to the Panther’s group work.
Hilliard and Fredrika Newton created the Dr. Huey P. Newton Basis in 1995. Dr. Newton, 47, was shot and killed by a drug vendor in West Oakland in 1989.
One of the crucial significant and emotional moments of the night for Fredrika Newton was putting up a dialog with scholar Nivia Charles, 27, of San Leandro.
“I spoke to a young woman with sickle cell anemia who said that if it wasn’t for the Black Panther Party, she wouldn’t be alive today,” mentioned Newton throughout her temporary speech. “That’s what this is all about — serving the people, body and soul.”
Fredrika Newton, former occasion member and spouse of Dr. Huey P. Newton, speaks in the course of the Black Panther Get together Museum’s “Survival Pending Revolution: The Black Panther Party Service to the People Program” exhibit opening on Broadway in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. The exhibit highlights the occasion’s 65 “community survival” applications which chapters throughout the nation launched in the course of the 1960’s and 1970’s. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
Believing that well being care is a fundamental human proper, Dr. Newton and Bobby Seale based the Sickle Cell Anemia Analysis Basis in 1971, one of many occasion’s 65 applications they applied to offer such necessities as free meals, training and transportation.
Charles, who was born with sickle cell anemia, turned an activist to assist others with the illness. She’s attending Howard College in Washington, D.C., graduating in 2026 with a bachelor’s diploma in group growth. The Panthers have impressed her for years, she mentioned, and she or he was thrilled to satisfy Newton in particular person.
“It was extremely touching and made me misty-eyed, but it was also extremely empowering to share my story. It was a great reminder that we are all a part of this fabric towards change,” Charles mentioned.
She mentioned that it was very poignant for the exhibition to be about group applications in a time the place folks’s rights, protections and assets are being damaged down.
“The Black Panthers have always been such an integral part of our community. They were the vanguard of the revolution and they continue to inspire us today,” Charles mentioned.
Sickle cell anemia advocate and warrior Nivia Charles, of San Leandro, talks with different attendees in the course of the Black Panther Get together Museum’s “Survival Pending Revolution: The Black Panther Party Service to the People Program” exhibit opening on Broadway in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. The exhibit highlights the occasion’s 65 “community survival” applications which chapters throughout the nation launched in the course of the 1960’s and 1970’s. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
The Black Panther Get together was based in Oakland in 1966 and lasted till 1982, together with many nationwide and worldwide chapters.
By way of a mix of historic artifacts, images, newspapers and video, guests to the museum can find out how the Panthers fed youngsters, arrange well being clinics, opened colleges and provided different essential assets to underserved communities.
Billy X Jennings was a celebration member from 1968-1974, when he was a scholar at Laney School, and is an archivist who helped curate the exhibition.
“This exhibit brings out the facts and brings out a light on something that’s been in the dark for a long time,” Jennings mentioned. “We’re trying to set the example for young people coming up to let them know that there were people before them trying to correct what was going on.”
Museum co-founder Dr. Xavier Buck mentioned he needed to ensure no less than 10 former Panthers had the chance to inform their tales, and had a voice in their very own narratives.
“The Black Panther Party’s survival programs were a beacon of hope and resilience in a time of great inequality and unrest,” mentioned Dr. Buck. “Through this exhibit, we aim to honor their legacy and show how their vision for justice and community empowerment remains deeply relevant today.”
Former Black Panther artist Gayle Asali Dickson, left middle, talks with former Black Panther lead doctor Tolbert Small, proper middle, in the course of the Black Panther Get together Museum’s “Survival Pending Revolution: The Black Panther Party Service to the People Program” exhibit opening on Broadway in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. The exhibit highlights the occasion’s 65 “community survival” applications which chapters throughout the nation launched in the course of the 1960’s and 1970’s. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
“Black history is American history,” mentioned Gayle Asali Dickson, former Panther artist. “You need that history so you know what to build off of for the future.”
Hazel Inexperienced, a public well being researcher, author and doctoral scholar, moved to Oakland a number of years in the past from North Carolina. She selected the town due to its historical past of activism.
“When I had the opportunity to move to the West Coast, I had to move to Oakland. I needed this history,” Inexperienced mentioned. “The update to the museum is timely because of the cuts to recent programs — people want to know about grassroots community programs.”
Marla Williams traveled from Vallejo along with her twins John and Mia, 11, who’ve been studying Black historical past in class and acknowledged numerous the Black Panther’s names.
Marla Williams and her twins John and Mia, 11, of Vallejo, take heed to audio system in the course of the Black Panther Get together Museum’s “Survival Pending Revolution: The Black Panther Party Service to the People Program” exhibit opening on Broadway in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. The exhibit highlights the occasion’s 65 “community survival” applications which chapters throughout the nation launched in the course of the 1960’s and 1970’s. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
“It’s a great place for healing and learning, it’s amazing. The fact that we’ve done so much, just reminds me of how much we can do,” Williams mentioned.
Fredrika Newton remarked on the tons of of individuals in attendance on opening evening and felt there was a starvation to be taught Black Panther Get together historical past.
“I think my history after the Black Panther Party is actually much more meaningful to me, to have created this foundation that still flourishes and I can share with my grandchildren,” Newton mentioned. “We hope to stay here and serve the people body and soul as long as I’m on this planet.”
The Black Panther Get together Museum was established in January 2024 by the Dr. Huey P. Newton Basis. Now in its thirtieth 12 months of operation, the inspiration continues its work by commissioning public artwork, creating academic instruments and exhibitions, decoding historic websites and sustaining the most important archival assortment on the Black Panther Get together worldwide.
Fredrika Newton, middle, former occasion member and spouse of Dr. Huey P. Newton, talks with Dr. Huey P. Newton Basis board member and Black Pleasure Parade founder Elisha Greenwell, proper, and others in the course of the Black Panther Get together Museum’s “Survival Pending Revolution: The Black Panther Party Service to the People Program” exhibit opening on Broadway in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. The exhibit highlights the occasion’s 65 “community survival” applications which chapters throughout the nation launched in the course of the 1960’s and 1970’s. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
The Black Panther Party Museum’s “Survival Pending Revolution: The Black Panther Party Service to the People Program” exhibit opened on Broadway in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. The exhibit highlights the occasion’s 65 “community survival” applications which chapters throughout the nation launched in the course of the 1960’s and 1970’s. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
People view the Black Panther Party Museum’s “Survival Pending Revolution: The Black Panther Party Service to the People Program” exhibit throughout their opening on Broadway in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. The exhibit highlights the occasion’s 65 “community survival” applications which chapters throughout the nation launched in the course of the 1960’s and 1970’s. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
A fallen comrades show of berets and a portrait of Bobby Hutton on show in the course of the Black Panther Get together Museum’s “Survival Pending Revolution: The Black Panther Party Service to the People Program” exhibit opening on Broadway in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. Hutton was slain by Oakland police in 1968 on the age of 17. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
People view the Black Panther Party Museum’s “Survival Pending Revolution: The Black Panther Party Service to the People Program” exhibit throughout their opening on Broadway in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. The exhibit highlights the occasion’s 65 “community survival” applications which chapters throughout the nation launched in the course of the 1960’s and 1970’s. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
Former lead doctor for the Black Panther Get together Tolbert Small’s lab coat and stethoscope on show in the course of the Black Panther Get together Museum’s “Survival Pending Revolution: The Black Panther Party Service to the People Program” exhibit opening on Broadway in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. The exhibit highlights the occasion’s 65 “community survival” applications which chapters throughout the nation launched in the course of the 1960’s and 1970’s. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
Journalism scholar Skylla Mumana, left, interviews former Black Panther and exhibit curator Billy X Jennings in the course of the Black Panther Get together Museum’s “Survival Pending Revolution: The Black Panther Party Service to the People Program” exhibit opening on Broadway in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. The exhibit highlights the occasion’s 65 “community survival” applications which chapters throughout the nation launched in the course of the 1960’s and 1970’s. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
Exhibit co-curator Mueni Loko Rudd will get a hug from Dr. Huey P. Newton Basis Government Director Xavier Buck in the course of the Black Panther Get together Museum’s “Survival Pending Revolution: The Black Panther Party Service to the People Program” exhibit opening on Broadway in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. The exhibit highlights the occasion’s 65 “community survival” applications which chapters throughout the nation launched in the course of the 1960’s and 1970’s. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
The chair and zebra rug of occasion co-founder Dr. Huey P. Newton on show in the course of the Black Panther Get together Museum’s “Survival Pending Revolution: The Black Panther Party Service to the People Program” exhibit opening on Broadway in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. The exhibit highlights the occasion’s 65 “community survival” applications which chapters throughout the nation launched in the course of the 1960’s and 1970’s. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
Dr. Huey P. Newton Basis Government Director Xavier Buck speaks in the course of the Black Panther Get together Museum’s “Survival Pending Revolution: The Black Panther Party Service to the People Program” exhibit opening on Broadway in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. The exhibit highlights the occasion’s 65 “community survival” applications which chapters throughout the nation launched in the course of the 1960’s and 1970’s. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
Fredrika Newton, left, former occasion member and spouse of Dr. Huey P. Newton, middle, talks with a visitor in the course of the Black Panther Get together Museum’s “Survival Pending Revolution: The Black Panther Party Service to the People Program” exhibit opening on Broadway in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. The exhibit highlights the occasion’s 65 “community survival” applications which chapters throughout the nation launched in the course of the 1960’s and 1970’s. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
Former member Billy X Jennings shows his Black Panther newspaper whereas talking in the course of the Black Panther Get together Museum’s “Survival Pending Revolution: The Black Panther Party Service to the People Program” exhibit opening on Broadway in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. The exhibit highlights the occasion’s 65 “community survival” applications which chapters throughout the nation launched in the course of the 1960’s and 1970’s. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
Dr. Huey P. Newton Basis board member Kieron Slaughter and his cousin Maggy Odin attend the Black Panther Get together Museum’s “Survival Pending Revolution: The Black Panther Party Service to the People Program” exhibit opening on Broadway in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. The exhibit highlights the occasion’s 65 “community survival” applications which chapters throughout the nation launched in the course of the 1960’s and 1970’s. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
Exhibit co-curator Mueni Loko Rudd listens to audio system in the course of the Black Panther Get together Museum’s “Survival Pending Revolution: The Black Panther Party Service to the People Program” exhibit opening on Broadway in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. Co-curator and former occasion member Billy X Jennings is to the precise. The exhibit highlights the occasion’s 65 “community survival” applications which chapters throughout the nation launched in the course of the 1960’s and 1970’s. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
Sarata Sesay, of Oakland, views the Black Panther Get together Museum’s “Survival Pending Revolution: The Black Panther Party Service to the People Program” exhibit throughout their opening on Broadway in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. The exhibit highlights the occasion’s 65 “community survival” applications which chapters throughout the nation launched in the course of the 1960’s and 1970’s. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
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Fredrika Newton, middle, former occasion member and spouse of Dr. Huey P. Newton, talks with Dr. Huey P. Newton Basis board member and Black Pleasure Parade founder Elisha Greenwell, proper, and others in the course of the Black Panther Get together Museum’s “Survival Pending Revolution: The Black Panther Party Service to the People Program” exhibit opening on Broadway in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. The exhibit highlights the occasion’s 65 “community survival” applications which chapters throughout the nation launched in the course of the 1960’s and 1970’s. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
