Created by Emory Douglas, Black Panther Party propaganda like this image were distributed across the United States, showcasing the organization’s beliefs and standpoints.

What Defines the Black Panther Party?

When you hear about or think of the Black Panther Party, what words and/or phrases come to mind? I am confident that what pops up in your mind is similar to what surfaces on my mind: black power, racial inequality, masculinity, violence, radicalism, intimidation, Oakland, revolutionary. Although you, the reader, may not have thought of exactly every single word/phrase that I thought of, I am sure that at least one of these terms came to mind and resonated with you. However, are all of these terms really what describe the Black Panther Party? One notable piece of propaganda created by the Black Panther Party evoke other thoughts. This image was an art piece designed by former Black Panther Party member Emory Douglas. Published in 1969 as Black Panther Party propaganda, this particular piece depicts an African American woman holding a spear in hand and carrying a rifle on her back. Different shades of pink and purple are the primary colors used for this artwork. At the top right, the art piece has a caption that reads, “Afro-American solidarity with the oppressed People of the world”. Seeing this image for the first time, I was struck by how different it was from what I imagined Black Panther propaganda would look like. When I think of the Black Panther Party, radicalism, violence, resistance, and masculinity are just a few concepts that come to mind. Looking at Douglas’s piece, I think of femininity, peace, and hippies. The notable contrast between the subject matter and the colors/graphics of the art piece allude to these ideas; with these elements in mind, I believe Douglas presents these contrasting ideas to resist the preconceptions and stereotypes people had about this organization in the 1960s-1970s.

An image like this one (also published by Emory Douglas) can be more commonly associated with the Black Panthers than the previous image. This poster shows a police officer portrayed as a pig with a number of guns and rifles aimed directly at them. The call for community control of police officials evokes feelings of immense fear from the white dominant culture during this period. Forms of media most likely used this image to demonstrate to the rest of the nation that the Black Panthers are a serious threat to society.

The subject matter of Douglas’s 1969 art piece, as mentioned above, is an African American woman (possibly a Black Panther Party member) carrying weapons, as if they are preparing for war. This individual, however, is not dressed as if they’re ready for an armed conflict; instead, their attire is rather similar to that of a hippie. The woman depicted in the image has an afro and wears light pink earrings, a peach-colored handkerchief, and a long sleeve with a bizarre pattern on it. While the hairstyle is representative of African American women, the style of attire is indicative of the stereotypical hippie. Another element about this art piece that alludes to the hippie culture is the background. The numerous pink and light purple stripes form a pattern that emerge from behind the depicted subject and travel in all directions outside of the image. To me, this pattern formed by the vibrant pink and purple colors along with the bold stripes is reflective of psychedelia, a subculture connected to hippies. For this art piece, Douglas brought together two distinct and prominent countercultures of the 1960s-1970s to illustrate a union among the people that resist the norms of the dominant culture. The caption assists in establishing this idea, claiming that the African American community stands with any communities or countercultures under oppression.

Now shifting the focus to the colors Douglas uses, they undermine the masculinity and violent nature often associated with the Black Panthers. With one glimpse at this artwork, the viewer can clearly see the two main colors Douglas used: pink and purple. These colors are, often times, symbolically tied to femininity and love. At first, I could not understand why Douglas would use this color palette rather than one that had red and black. Red and black colors are usually associated with fear and boldness. However, thinking about the time period during which this piece was created and the subject of the artwork, the viewer gets a sense as to why Emory Douglas decided on this specific color palette. During the 1960s, women were still kept within their stereotypes and therefore left out of society like most minority groups. Being an African American woman during this era was even more difficult as they now pertained to two different minority groups heavily neglected by the dominant American society. What this piece of Black Panther Party propaganda sets to establish is the idea that the Black Panthers acknowledge the importance of women in society and stand with them. The Black Panthers were not restricted to having only men; women were also fundamental to the organization. Women had their own positions within the Black Panther Party and participated in the group’s activities. Douglas’s use of the pink and purple colors demasculinize the image of the party and in a way empower the African American woman. Having women portrayed in the Black Panther Party’s propaganda was critical for the party as it demonstrated that the hardships African Americans faced in 20th century America impacted both men and women.

Women in the Black Panther Party were not constrained by gender stereotypes. They were active participants who took on several tasks, including speaking at events and supervising programs like the free breakfast for children initiative.

As I mentioned before, black nationalism is a major theme that comes to mind when thinking about the Black Panthers. Even though an end to discrimination and racism towards the African American community was the central goal, the Black Panthers also dedicated time to helping their community through community health clinics and free breakfast programs for children. Most people, including myself, do not know this side of the Black Panthers. During the Black Panther Party’s existence, police officials claimed that the organization was a major threat to society which evoked a sense of fear throughout the United States. With the help of the media, the U.S. then worked effortlessly to give the Black Panthers a negative image and spread this view to the American society. As a result of this, almost every single individual in the 1960s viewed the Black Panthers as a serious menace to the nation’s safety. However, Douglas leaves out this formulated image of the organization. With the bright and vibrant colors juxtaposing the spear and rifle, Emory Douglas weakens the implications illustrated by both weapons and elicits an aura of peace. The elements of Douglas’s art piece work together to dismantle the violent and radical image of the Black Panthers and offer a more positive and distinct image.

Thus, defining what the Black Panther Party was and what it stood for depends on where you learn about them. My thoughts on the Black Panther Party were shaped by what I was taught in my high school U.S. History course. All I can recall learning about the Black Panthers was that they were a group of black men united together with the goal of achieving racial equality for the African American community through the use of scare tactics. Thus, every individual will have their own perspective and thoughts about the Black Panther Party. While one person can say they were a representation of black power and violence, another person can interpret the group as an organization dedicated to helping their community and pushing for equality among the oppressed as stated in the Emory Douglas art piece.