The Black Panther Party’s Breakfast Program for School Children

By: Paige Robinson, Staff Photographer 

The Black Panther Party (BPP) in the 1960’s is known by many, but not always in a positive way. They are / were seen as a violent terrorist group that was feared by many people in the white community. However, their intentions and actions are rarely spoken about truthfully.

The Black Panther Party was a Black power organization that was created in 1966 by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale to promote Black power and protect the Black body. As the Black community was oppressed, the Black Panther Party was encouraging Black people to love themselves and not be afraid to stand up for themselves. This caused fear in the white community because they saw how the Black community was beginning to defend themselves. Nevertheless, the Black Panther Party was not supposed to be considered a violent group, but instead a strong community who cared for each other. When taught about their group, the great acts they did are never mentioned. What many people are not aware of is how the Black Panther Party inspired the rest of the country to start school feeding programs for children. 

Many Black children lived in poverty because of the racist ideals in America in the 1960’s. This meant very little food for them. With the BPP wanting to ensure the protection / survival of Black people, the BPP was inspired to create a program to feed children before they started classes in school. The program was called the Black Panthers’ Free Breakfast for School Children and was officially created in 1966, just a few years after the establishment of the BPP as a whole. Schools and the BPP worked with local grocery stores to supply food. The program led to thousands of children being fed every morning, which for many children, was their only meal of the day. This did not only fill their stomachs, but did improve the children’s behavior in class and would not complain about being hungry. Despite the positives of the program, the white community worked to bring it down.

The FBI was already not in favor with the BPP, so they attempted to stop the breakfast for children program. They would do acts like travel to the Black communities houses and tell the residents that the BPP would poison their children’s food, find the schools with the breakfast and destroy it and even urinate on it, and so many other terrible things. Sadly, the FBI’s actions led to the downfall of the BPP, along with them killing many Civil Rights activists, destroying Black neighborhoods, and more. 

Regardless of how the FBI and the overall white community worked to break down the Black community and their accomplishments, these moments in history do not go unnoticed. The BPP may have officially been shut down, but the community continued to stay strong and protect one another. Their acts would later lead to equality and justice. As for the free breakfast program the BPP created, their acts were noticed by many around the nation, which inspired schools all around to start their own breakfast programs. Despite the BPP being seen as a horrible group, they did amazing things for others, and ended up being an influence on many.

To read more about The Black Panther Party’s School Breakfast Program, visit:

https://www.history.com/news/free-school-breakfast-black-panther-party

Leesburg Stockade's Stolen Girls

By Paige Robinson, Staff Photographer 

During the Civil Rights Movement, many members of the Black community fought for equal rights and justice. This included all ages, genders, and backgrounds. In Americus, Georgia, there was a youth group called the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) who led peaceful protests. In July 1963, the SNCC hosted a protest near the Martin Theater, with more than 200 people involved. Police quickly shut down the protest, but the story does not stop there. 

While there were many arrests ending with protestors being let off quickly, not all were that lucky. There were 35 girls between the ages of 12 and 15 who were arrested, and were taken 20 miles away from their homes. While in jail, the police did not alert any of their families that they were being held captive. These girls became known as the Stolen Girls. Little to no food and water was provided and the conditions were unethical. The girls wore the same clothes they had on the day of the protest, were forced to share a small cell with no beds, and had no working toilet. In addition to this neglect, many of the prison guards would torture and rape the young girls. 

After some deep diving, a photographer for the SNCC was able to trace where the Stolen Girls were taken. He traveled to the jail they were being held in, and instantly spread the news when he saw the girls held captive. He took photos that were later published to the paper. With all the press and public attention, the jail finally released the girls. They did not file anything on the girl’s records, but some of the Stolen Girls’ families received bills from the jail claiming they had to pay $2 for each day the girls were there.

What happened to the Stolen Girls is one of many stories of horrible treatment the Black community deals with despite the continued fight for equality. However, these events did not stop the girls from protesting. They continued to protest and fight for their community, and play a monumental role in the Civil Rights Movement.

To read more about this topic visit https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/stolen-girls-july-august-1963/

The Real Lone Ranger

Paige Robinson, Staff Photographer 

What pops into your mind when you think about the Lone Ranger? Most likely a white cowboy on a horse in the Wild West. That would make sense because of how the media portrays the Lone Ranger. Movies have shown the majority of cowboys as white males. However, the famous Lone Ranger was actually inspired by a Black man. In fact, most cowboys in history were Black men. 

This piece of history is unknown to many because the cowboy era took place post-slavery, and the white crowd was not in favor of seeing a Black man as the face of cowboys. This is one of many instances of white people taking away Black credit and culture. Today I’m going to tell you the true story of the Black man who inspired the Lone Ranger, Bass Reeves. 

Bass Reeves was born into slavery to a man named William Reeves in Arkansas. At the onset of the Civil War, Reeves was sent to fight for the Confederacy. During the war, he was able to escape into Indian territory, which is now modern-day Oklahoma. The Indian tribes (Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole) were moved out by colonizers by the Indian Removal Act, so there was prominent exclusivity on who could join their territory. Bass Reeves was one of the special few accepted by the Indian tribes, and was brought into their culture. With the Indian tribes, he was able to learn how to use weapons and how to defend himself. He also studied their languages and culture. Bass stayed with the tribes until slavery was abolished. Then, he moved back to Arkansas and started a family.

After 10 years in Arkansas, Reeves returned to the Indian territories. He was hired by Marshal James Fagan to help reduce the high crime that was present. He used the skills he learned from the Civil War and from the Indian tribes to master the skill of catching criminals. This work earned him the job of a deputy, making him the first Black deputy in Mississippi. In total, he caught over 3,000 criminals, and killed 14 who posed a more serious threat. He became famous in the Wild West, and many criminals feared him. 

One of Reeves’ most popular stories was when he was told about a very dangerous criminal on the loose. Reeves had a feeling of where the criminal would be, so he traveled 30 miles on foot and hid. His gut did him justice, for when the criminal walked by where Reeves was hiding, he approached him and arrested him. 

Reeves was an icon in the Wild West. He made a huge impact by reducing crime and helping the community. However, with all of the things he did, Reeves never got the credit he truly deserved. The media gave him the nickname “Lone Ranger,” without revealing who he truly was. The press and audience were very excited to hear about him. When the chance came to reveal Reeves’ true identity, it angered many when they realized he was Black, so they decided to make the Lone Ranger white. Society at the time was not ready to accept the fact that a Black man could do what he did. If there were movies made about the real Lone Ranger, people would not watch it. If there were newspapers about the real Lone Ranger, people would not read it. Bass Reeves' story is yet another example of a Black person who gets their credit taken away from white America.

Although Reeves never got credit for who he truly was, he still fought to do the right thing. He was never discouraged, and wanted to make a difference no matter who would know about it. To this day, American culture knows of the tales of the Lone Ranger, all thanks to Bass Reeves. 

Black History Month: What Regis Students Can Do

(Photo: AfricanAmericanHistoryMonth.gov)

               Black History Month is a celebration of African American culture and history. According to Time Magazine, in 1926 Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (previously called the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, which he formed with Jesse E. Moorland in 1915), created the first "Negro History Week." Woodson created it, as well as the Association because he was frustrated with how African-Americans were not part of the narrative in history lessons. The predecessor to what is now Black History Month began in the second week of February, as it contains both Abraham Lincoln's and Frederick Douglass' birthdays. According to Time Magazine, the celebrations of the history week picked up quickly. However, in the mid 1960s, during the Civil Rights Movement, colleges and universities expanded on the History Week, turning it into Black History Month. From there, in 1976, President Ford then decreed Black History Month to be a national celebration.

               But to truly understand what Black History Month means, as well as what Regis students can do to support students of color on campus, an interview with the Black Student Alliance (BSA) on the Regis campus proved very insightful. While there were mixed reactions to the perspective of Black History Month, the overall feeling was that Black History Month is not enough. As one member of BSA said, "You say it out loud, but nothing really happens;" there is a feeling of inaction regarding the representation as well as the education of the role that people of color play not only in history but everywhere in academia and beyond. When asked if the BSA is doing anything specific to commemorate the month, the answer was no. While there is Anti-Oppression Week, V-Day, and Justice Week to mention a few campus-wide events, it is expected that the BSA would be the one to completely structure the celebration of Black History Month, which many of the BSA members felt was too much pressure as they would be making something completely new.

               However, Regis students can do things in order to support the people of color on campus. For instance, the inclusion of people of color on flyers or ads around campus, minimizing people of colors' experiences both in and outside campus can help. Along with this, the BSA emphasized the importance of not expecting every person of color to answer every question about their community or the effect a topic has on them. They encouraged us to ask more thoughtful questions whose answers cannot be found by looking elsewhere. One of the biggest forms of support is integrating people of color more into the campus. Another aspect that the BSA talked about was the idea of tokenization; often times, the people of color on campus or outside of it who become tokenized are expected to answer questions or queries for the whole of the community. As a result, the people of color are seen as "other," and not as who they are, which are people, as well as our fellow students.

               For those interested, the Black Student Alliance meets on Wednesdays, from 4pm – 5pm, in Clarke 138.

Margaret Gentry Staff Reporter