Black Panther Party 

by Steven Wong

The Black Panther Party was a revolutionary socialist organization which existed between the years 1966 and 1982. The party consisted of black civil rights activists and became famous for the role they played during the various U.S. political events that occurred in the 1960s and 1970s. During the time they were active, the Black Panther Party established many helpful organizations such as the Free Breakfast for Children program. Their kinds acts, however, were overlooked because of their violent attacks against the police and other criminal activities they took part in. The FBI watched closely over the party's actions through the surveillance COINTELPRO program, but still could not prevent every outbreak of revolution. Membership in the Black Panther Party reached their peak number of several thousand in 1969, but not long after, the party suffered from corruption, internal splits, and drug scandals which eventually led to their decline. And by 1980, the Black Panther Party consisted of only 27 actual members.