http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/295990
Aug 13, 2010
by Christopher Wager
Are the New Black Panther ideals and intent a danger not only to the
fundamental philosophies prosperity's of America, but to the
stability of public security as well?
The New Black Panthers founded by Aaron Michaels in 1990 in Dallas,
Texas. later moved to its current headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Michaels at the time was a radio producer and community activist
influenced by the original radical group for which it's named The
Black Panthers.
To start at the beginning, and to offer to the best of my ability, a
condensed clear understanding of the roots of the panther movement
and those keys players in its conception. The year was 1966. The
place was Oakland, California where a group of Marxist (Marxism is a
theoretical system geared toward social and economic change) militant
(aggressive person or party, warring) black Nationalists
(self-determination or independence from white society) form to fight
for civil rights against repression.
Huey Newton and Bobby Seale, the original founders of The Black
Panthers, were able to gain 5,000 members with over twenty chapters
of the group across the country. During this time the group
experienced a number of conflicts with police resulting in the deaths
of Black Panther members as well as police. However, the group had
lost most of its steam by the 1970's. One original member was elected
to the Milwaukee City Council in 1987 - Michael McGee. From the press
post of his office he announced the formation of The Black Panther
Militia. Organizing local gangs, their mission as McGee stated,
"Would be to engage in violence, armed combat, and urban guerrilla warfare."
It is during this time, McGee is working to spread the word and start
new chapters, that Aaron Michaels is introduced to the movement. Not
much is written on what ever happened to McGee's Black Panther
Militia; one can only speculate that the movement had been
assimilated into The New Black Panthers Party (NBPP). With the
formation of the new party, I feel it's important to understand the
role the Islamic influence had.
A key figure in bringing the word of Islam to the NBPP was Khalid
Abdul Muhammad who had been spokesperson for the party The Nation of
Islam (NOI). The NOI is a religious group formed in 1930 to promote
the spiritual belief that God will install a worldwide government of
peace. This group believes there is no other god but Allah and that
the black man is a true human and the white man has yet to evolve. In
addition, they share The New Black Panthers sediment of separatism.
The NOI has had notable members such as Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X.
Khalid Abdul Muhammad survived an attempt on his life while giving a
speech at UCLA. Muhammad went to Dallas to recuperate from a leg
wound received during the attempt where he met Aaron Michaels and
soon joined the high ranks of the party. Once again the party, mainly
Muhammad, traveled around the country to spread the word of the party
and to siphon off young members of the NOI. In his effort, Muhammad
was able to secure the support of Reverend Al Sharpton.
It wasn't long after a historic gathering in New York City in 1998
where he had instructed the crowd to "do battle" with the police that
Muhammad was elected National Chairman of the Party and Aaron took on
a lesser role. At this point The New Black Panther party has been
labeled an extremist hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center
(SPLC). The SPLC has long been a strong advocate for civil rights.
On February 17, 2002, the party would be forced to change leadership
again with the sudden death of 53 year old Muhammad who had suffered
a brain aneurysm. The new voice of the movement was Malik Zulu
Shabazz who was Muhammad's second in command. He remains the leader
of the party today following in the racist, anti-Semitic, violent
footsteps as his predecessor. The New Black Panther Party has no
interest in the teachings or charity of the original Black Panthers
and continues to make news. In May 2007, New Black Panther Leader
Shabazz was denied entry into Canada. Shabazz was expected to give a
speech to Black Youth Action at Queen's Park in Toronto. He was
stopped at the airport. Reasons given at the time was because of past
incidents and their conflict with Canadian hate laws. Not satisfied
with his denial, Shabazz tried again at the border and once again was
denied entry.
Most recently the NBPP has been in the news when it was brought to
light that they supposedly had been involved in voter intimidation in
Philadelphia in 2008. The group claimed at the time to be security,
but rescinded this statement on their website NewBlackPanther.org;
now, saying no intimidation of any kind took place. Although there
were charges against the Black Panthers by The Department of Justice,
they were later dropped and the members involved received a slap on
the wrist. It was during this time when a NBPP Philadelphia leader
Minister King Samir Shabazz was filmed saying,
"You want freedom? You're gonna have to kill some crackers" You're
gonna have to kill some of their babies! I hate white people - all of
them! Every last iota of a cracker, I hate 'em."
Shabazz was quoted in an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer saying,
"I'm about the total destruction of white people. I'm about the total
liberation of black people. I hate white people. I hate my enemy...."
On July 17th of this year, the group planned a march in protest of
the dragging-lynching of Anthony Hill where they were joined by seven
other protesting groups. Atty. Malik Zulu Shabazz was the key note speaker.
On further investigation of the group's website, I discovered their
ten point platform "borrowed" from the original Black Panthers. These
ten points lay out what they want from the American government.
Here are their demands:
1. Freedom to practice self-determination (a phrase they use a lot in
their teachings).
2. Full employment.
3. Tax exemption (and full reparation).
4. Decent housing (free health care).
5. Education.
6. Exemption from military service.
7. An end to brutality and murder of black people.
8. Freedom for all blacks held in all jails worldwide.
9. Trial jury's made up of people from the black communities.
10. No death penalty for blacks.
The website also promotes "study guides" for members such as
Blueprint for Black Power by Amos N. Wilson, Age of Propaganda (The
Everyday Use and Abuse of Persuasion) by Anthony Pratkanis and Elliot
Aronson, and Black Skin, White Masks by Frantz Fanon.
On August 9th, I attempted to contact The New Black Panthers
headquarters by e-mail and phone; neither of which was answered. This
group is not as unique as they would lead the public to believe.
To date the Southern Poverty Law Center recognizes 932 active hate
groups in the U.S. According to the SPLC there are four branches of
the Nation of Islam in Ohio including one in Youngstown along with
one black separatists group. Texas currently holds the record for
total number of groups in one state followed by California. The New
Black Panthers, Skinheads, Nation of Islam, White Supremacists,
Neo-Nazi's and others continue to grow as shall our awareness of
their threat to America.
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