OAKLAND — During the late 1960s, the Black Panther Party's revolutionary newspaper could be found in Oakland, in other inner cities and on college campuses across the country. Starting today, those distinctive pages that helped to spread the party's message about the struggle for civil rights in the African-American community will be on display at a free exhibit. "Educate to Liberate: A Retrospective of the Black Panther Community News Service" will be showcased in the Oakland History Room at the Oakland Main Library, 125 14th St.
It runs through Dec. 31 and features newspapers and photographs. The archival material is on loan to the library from the It's About Time Committee, a nonprofit group organizing a series of commemorative events in honor of the Panther Party's 40th anniversary in October.
"It's a good opportunity to display the original exhibit because the Black Panther Party material is extremely sought after," said Steven Lavoie, a librarian at the Oakland History Room.
The party's newspaper ran from 1967 to 1980. The exhibit features historical issues of the paper, including the trial of founding Panther member Huey P. Newton, the student strike at San Francisco State for a Black Studies program and a cover story about Malcolm X.
Each issue highlights the party's Ten-PointPlatform and Program, such as the free breakfast programs and free medical clinics. Since then many of the programs tied to the party's legacy have become a national model for federal food programs.
"I want people to know that the Black Panther Party newspaper represented (Oakland),"
said Billy X Jennings, the party's historian and founder of It's About Time, the Black Panther reunion committee. "We were trying to use our ideas to correct mistakes in the community and to be a guiding light."
During the paper's history, more than 650 issues were published. Jennings said party members distributed about 400,000 newspapers a week. At its pinnacle from 1968-1970 the paper outsold Jet and Muhammed Speaks magazines, he said.
The paper became known as the leading voice of the party. It also featured the work of Emory Douglas, who designed the paper and several revolutionary posters.
On Wednesday, in conjunction with the exhibit, the paper's first editor, Elbert "Big Man" Howard, will speak at the library. He will discuss his experiences with the paper as well as the book he wrote, "Panther on the Prowl."
Photographers Stephen Shames, Jeffrey Blankfort and Ilka Hartmann will visit the library Oct. 10 to talk about their work with the Black Panther Party.
"The impact of the paper is tremendous," Jennings said. "It was a vanguard organizing tool."
It runs through Dec. 31 and features newspapers and photographs. The archival material is on loan to the library from the It's About Time Committee, a nonprofit group organizing a series of commemorative events in honor of the Panther Party's 40th anniversary in October.
"It's a good opportunity to display the original exhibit because the Black Panther Party material is extremely sought after," said Steven Lavoie, a librarian at the Oakland History Room.
The party's newspaper ran from 1967 to 1980. The exhibit features historical issues of the paper, including the trial of founding Panther member Huey P. Newton, the student strike at San Francisco State for a Black Studies program and a cover story about Malcolm X.
Each issue highlights the party's Ten-PointPlatform and Program, such as the free breakfast programs and free medical clinics. Since then many of the programs tied to the party's legacy have become a national model for federal food programs.
"I want people to know that the Black Panther Party newspaper represented (Oakland),"
During the paper's history, more than 650 issues were published. Jennings said party members distributed about 400,000 newspapers a week. At its pinnacle from 1968-1970 the paper outsold Jet and Muhammed Speaks magazines, he said.
The paper became known as the leading voice of the party. It also featured the work of Emory Douglas, who designed the paper and several revolutionary posters.
On Wednesday, in conjunction with the exhibit, the paper's first editor, Elbert "Big Man" Howard, will speak at the library. He will discuss his experiences with the paper as well as the book he wrote, "Panther on the Prowl."
Photographers Stephen Shames, Jeffrey Blankfort and Ilka Hartmann will visit the library Oct. 10 to talk about their work with the Black Panther Party.
"The impact of the paper is tremendous," Jennings said. "It was a vanguard organizing tool."