The Black Panthers started in North Oakland in the fall of 1966. Their very visible public presence marked a change of pace during the Civil Rights movement - from giving out free breakfast to children to entering the California State Assembly with loaded rifles, shotguns and pistols.
Stanley Nelson, MacArthur “genius” Fellow, has made documentaries about the Civil Rights movement, the American Indian Movement and Jonestown. He spoke with KALW’s Ben Trefny about his new film, “The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution,” and what made the Black Panthers so influential. The film is currently showing around the Bay Area.
When the police would jump out and make a stop, they would jump out behind the police...they would observe the police to make sure no brutality occurred and that was the beginning of the Black Panther party.
