The Black Panther Party was a revolutionary socialist organization founded in Oakland, California, in 1966 by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale. The party was originally established to protect African American neighborhoods from police brutality and to promote self-defense within the black community.

The Black Panthers believed in armed self-defense, community organizing, and the empowerment of African Americans through education and political action. They also advocated for economic justice, an end to systemic racism, and the liberation of all oppressed peoples. The party's iconic symbol, the clenched black fist, represented solidarity and resistance against racism and oppression.

The Black Panthers organized community programs such as free breakfast programs for children, medical clinics, and educational initiatives. They also challenged police brutality and racial discrimination through armed patrols and activism.

The party faced intense government surveillance and repression, including the FBI's counterintelligence program, COINTELPRO, which sought to undermine and destabilize the organization. Despite these challenges, the Black Panthers had a significant impact on the civil rights and Black Power movements of the 1960s and 1970s.

While the Black Panther Party dissolved in the early 1980s, its legacy continues to inspire activism and advocacy for racial justice and equity. The Panthers' commitment to self-defense, community empowerment, and social change remains a powerful symbol of resistance and resilience in Black history.