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part 2 of 3 Due to issues involving the internal direction of group policies, The Black Panther party was short lived, collapsing in the early 70's, but their influence was felt by many. J.Edgar Hoover described the (BPP) as being, "The greatest threat to the internal security of this country!" With this firm belief, initiated a systematic murder or imprisonment of its high ranking party members. This misuse and manipulation of government authority only fueled the flames for its member's determination, and recruited the support of high profile celebrities and world leaders. An example of this was displayed during the 1968 Olympics by the winners of the 200m dash. The gold and silver medalist (Tommie Smith, John Carlos) during the playing of the star spangled banner, with lowered heads, raised a single black glove covered fist. While bronze medalist (Peter Norman) provided allegiance by adorning an Olympic project for human rights badge on his jacket. These San Jose University students had planned this display, but Carlos forgot his pair of gloves, so Newton suggested they share Smith's. The three were ostracized by the citizens of the U.S. and Australia. The Americans were stripped of their medals and banned from the games. Smith later said "If I win, I am American, not a black American. But if I did something bad, then they would say I am a Negro. We are black and we are proud of being black. Black America will understand what we did tonight." Upon return the two received death threats for years. It's almost ironic that in 1968, San Jose University scorned its student's behavior now commemorates it with a twenty foot high statue. The athletes remained close friends, Tommie Smith and John Carlos even served as pall-bearers at the funeral for Peter Norman, who passed away in 2006 from a heart attack at the age of 64 yrs old. Their demand for human justice is one of the most recognized moments captured at an Olympic games. In 1989 the New Black Panther Party Movement began in Dallas,TX receiving extremely mixed reviews. Under chairmanship of Khalid Abdul Muhammad, the original members of the (BPP) insist the (NBPP) is illegitimate, and consider the rebirth an insult. It has been stated: As guardian of the true history of the Black Panther Party, the <Dr. Huey P. Newton> Foundation, which includes former leading members of the Party, denounces this group's exploitation of the Party's name and history. Failing to find its own legitimacy in the black community, this band would graft the Party's name upon itself, which we condemn... <They denigrate the Party's name by promoting concepts absolutely counter to the revolutionary principles on which the Party was founded... The Black Panthers were never a group of angry young militants full of fury toward the "white establishment." The Party operated on love for black people, not hatred of white people. – Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation , There Is No New Black Panther Party

part 3 of 3 This new party is comprised mostly of Black Muslims with a separatist mentality and has a disregard for diversity. Their agenda is negative and its views are racists. Many members voice opinions that are anti-Semitic, mostly in the form of a negative conspiracy theory. This malicious new organization blemishes what the original Black Panther Party stood for with their blatant disrespect for the rights of other cultures. They claim that anyone can use this name and that the original party is filled with a bunch of, "has been wanna be Panthers" just because they have chosen to use a less militant, politically correct approach towards social reform. The New Black Panther Party and their tactics are considered similar to those endorsed by any supremacist group, giving them the appearance of a self-glorified street gang. The original Black Panther Party helped pave a way to ending poverty, leading to hope with its re-affirmation of pride. These achievements were accomplished with the use of, "Brains and Brawn" . At that time the Panther's views may have seemed a bit quixotic and maybe they were, but unlike the popular view of The Black Panthers, their goal was the acquisition of education, the end of poverty and injustice, for the founding of a positive social evolution.