The Black Panther Party and the FBI
The murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in 2020 sparked an uprising that has brought increased attention to both the role of police violence in communities of color and state repression against activists–Black activists, in particular. Both of these issues have a long history in the United States. The 2021 film Judas and the Black Messiah details part of this history, giving viewers a glimpse into the FBI infiltration of the Black Panther Party and the assassination of two of its leaders, Chairman Fred Hampton Sr. and Defense Captain Mark Clark.
Neutralizing the Revolution: The Black Panther Party and the FBI provides an opportunity to analyze primary sources from the Black Panther Party, Chairman Fred Hampton, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s COINTELPRO operation (1956-1971), which sought to inhibit the effectiveness of Black liberation groups and other activist organizations. These activities provide students with historical context for Judas and the Black Messiah.
The lesson also includes a discussion guide for the film. While the film is historical fiction and dramatizes the events of 1968-1969, it offers a useful window into many important topics: What makes a leader? What is the role of the government in keeping its citizens safe? What do abuses of power in government look like? How does state repression of social movements serve to uphold white supremacy?
GUIDING QUESTIONS:
What was the Black Panther Party and what were its goals?
What were the mission and goals of the FBI’s COINTELPRO operation?
How did COINTELPRO violate the human rights of the members of the Black Panther Party and other activists?
What are the legacies of the Black Panther Party, Chairman Fred Hampton, and COINTELPRO today?
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
Provide a broad overview of the Black Panther Party and its Ten Point Program
Evaluate the FBI’s COINTELPRO program and its role in inhibiting the growth of the Black Panther Party
Make connections between the problems that the Black Panthers sought to solve and current human rights issues
Draw parallels between the repression of Black activists during the civil rights movement and today