Abstract

Surprisingly limited scholarship exists on the Black Panther Party, and much of that scholarship has an extremely divided view of the Party; either the Party is separatist or built alliances, either the Party is revolutionary or reformist. By studying the Black Panther newspaper in the year 1969, "The Year of the Panther," it becomes clear that the Party was all of these things. The party created alliances with a wide variety of groups while maintaining that they were a Black Power organization. It practiced revolutionary Communism while advocating reform of the American system. In short, the Black Panther Party was a complex and nuanced organization with a variety of methods which at times appeared contradictory in nature.

First Advisor

Bill Breitenbach

Second Advisor

Nancy Bristow

Degree Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts in History

Date of Award

Spring 5-18-2014

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