BLACK PANTHER PRINCIPLES:
THE TEN-POINT PROGRAM

Main Index Blog Intro


BPP member Charles Bursey, serving in the free lunch program.
Mutual aid was a major component for their organization.


1. WE WANT FREEDOM. WE WANT POWER TO DETERMINE

THE DESTINY OF OUR BLACK AND OPPRESSED COMMUNITIES.

We believe that Black and oppressed people will not be free

until we are able to determine our destinies in our own communities ourselves...

by fully controlling all the institutions which exist in our communities.

2. WE WANT FULL EMPLOYMENT FOR OUR PEOPLE.

We believe that the federal government is responsible and obligated

to give every person employment or a guaranteed income.

We believe that if the American businessmen will not give full employment, then

the technology and means of production should be taken from

the businessmen and placed in the community.


3. WE WANT AN END TO THE ROBBERY OF
OUR BLACK AND OPPRESSED COMMUNITIES.

We will accept the payment in currency which will be

distributed to our many communities.

The American racist has taken part in the slaughter of our fifty million Black people.

Therefore, we feel this is a modest demand that we make.

4. WE WANT DECENT HOUSING, FIT FOR THE SHELTER OF HUMAN BEINGS.

Housing and the land should be made into cooperatives so that the people in our

communities, with government aid, can build and make decent housing for the people.

5. WE WANT EDUCATION THAT TEACHES US OUR TRUE
HISTORY AND OUR ROLE IN THE PRESENT-DAY SOCIETY.

We believe in an educational system that will give to our people a knowledge of the self.

If you do not have knowledge of yourself and your position in the society

and in the world, then you will have little chance to know anything else.

6. WE WANT COMPLETELY FREE HEALTH CARE
FOR ALL BLACK AND OPPRESSED PEOPLE.

We believe that the government must provide, free of charge, for the people,

health facilities which will not only treat our illnesses,

most of which have come about as a result of our oppression.

7. WE WANT AN IMMEDIATE END TO POLICE BRUTALITY AND MURDER OF BLACK PEOPLE, OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR,
ALL OPPRESSED PEOPLE INSIDE THE UNITED STATES.


Protest against the House Committee on Un-American Activities, San Francisco in 1960.

We believe it is our right, therefore, to defend ourselves against such armed forces

and that all Black and oppressed people should be armed

for self-defense of our homes and communities against these forces.

8. WE WANT AN IMMEDIATE END TO ALL WARS OF AGGRESSION.*

We believe that the various conflicts which exist around the world

stem directly from the aggressive desire of the United States

ruling circle and government to force its domination

upon the oppressed people of the world.

We believe that if the United States government or its lackeys

do not cease these aggressive wars, it is the right of the people

to defend themselves by any means necessary against their aggressors.

9. WE WANT FREEDOM FOR ALL BLACK AND OPPRESSED
PEOPLE NOW HELD IN U. S. FEDERAL, STATE,
COUNTY, CITY AND MILITARY PRISONS AND JAILS.

The masses of men and women imprisoned inside the United States or by

the United States military are the victims of oppressive conditions

which are the real cause of their imprisonment.

...When persons are brought to trial they must be guaranteed, by the

United States, juries of their peers, attorneys of their choice

and freedom from imprisonment while awaiting trial.

10. WE WANT LAND, BREAD, HOUSING, EDUCATION,
CLOTHING, JUSTICE, PEACE AND PEOPLE'S COMMUNITY
CONTROL OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY.


Source: Collective Liberation

Malcolm X

Malcolm X's Last Speech

Personal Revolution