Final answer:
The Black Panther Party was a radical civil rights organization founded in 1966 in Oakland, California. They sought to address social and economic inequality through their Ten Point Program and were known for their militant attitude and armed self-defense. Despite controversy, the party played a significant role in the fight for civil rights and the empowerment of African Americans.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Black Panther Party was a radical civil rights organization that was founded in 1966 in Oakland, California, by Bobby Seale and Huey Newton. The party believed that African Americans were suffering from both capitalism and white racism, and they sought to address issues of social and economic inequality through their Ten Point Program, which called for jobs, housing, education, and protection from police brutality. The Black Panthers became known for their militant attitude and advocacy of armed self-defense, as well as their community service programs such as free breakfast programs for children.
The party's activities often clashed with law enforcement, leading to arrests and violent confrontations. Despite controversy surrounding their methods and rhetoric, the Black Panther Party played a significant role in the fight for civil rights and the empowerment of African Americans during the 1960s and 1970s.