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A history of radical Black self-care and the impact of the Black Panther Party
OPINION: If we still had the programs the Black Panthers initiated across the U.S. what could’ve been?
Ryan Pearson
Like many viewers, I was deeply impacted by
Shaka King’s
Fred Hampton (
Daniel Kaluuya) and his assassination by the FBI, which was successful because of the aid of an informant (
Lakeith Stanfield) who infiltrated the Chicago chapter of the organization that Hampton led.
While the racism, anti-Blackness, betrayal and violence against Black people was difficult to digest, the focus on Black liberation that the Black Panther party so mightily worked toward was inspirational and thought-evoking. What captured me most was the party’s dedication to self-care in the Black community. In today’s society, we often are sold this image of self-care as getting your favorite ice cream, bingeing Netflix on a Friday night, having a spa day, exercising, or getting a massage.
Two Black Panthers are met on the steps of the State Capitol in Sacramento by Police Lt. Ernest Holloway. Holloway told them they could keep their weapons if they did not disturb the peace. Earlier, party members had invaded the Assembly chambers and had their guns taken away. Bettmann/Getty Images
The Black Panther look is one of the most widely recognized in the world. When Beyoncé and her backup dancers donned black leather berets, afros and military-inspired accessories at Super Bowl 50, there was zero confusion about who they were channeling, especially in the wake of several highly criticized police shootings of unarmed Black men.