Finding aid for the Black Panther Party news sheets 7116

Bo Doub
USC Libraries Special Collections
2021 June
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California 90089-0189
specol@usc.edu


Contributing Institution: USC Libraries Special Collections
Title: Black Panther Party news sheets
Creator: Newton, Huey P.
Creator: Black Panther Party
Creator: Black Panther Party. Southern California Chapter
Identifier/Call Number: 7116
Physical Description: 0.02 Linear Feet 1 document preservation binder
Date (inclusive): 1968-1973
Abstract: A collection of five mimeographed communications from the Black Panther Party from 1968 to 1973. Between issues of The Black Panther newspaper, the Black Panther Party would issue mimeographed news sheets locally. The format, with its quick turnaround and low production cost, enabled the Black Panthers to address events within days or hours of their occurrence. Unlike the newspaper, which eventually was distributed in several cities, these mimeographed bulletins were not circulated on a large scale and few have survived. One notable news sheet in the collection is Huey Newton's essay titled "On the Defection of Eldridge Cleaver from the Black Panther Party and the Defection of the Black Panther Party from the Black Community" -- which Newton wrote after his release from prison in 1973. Huey Newton authored the majority of the essays in this collection.
Language of Material: English .

Scope and Contents

A collection of five mimeographed communications from the Black Panther Party from 1968 to 1973. Between issues of The Black Panther newspaper, the Black Panther Party would issue mimeographed news sheets locally. The format, with its quick turnaround and low production cost, enabled the Black Panthers to address events within days or hours of their occurrence. Unlike the newspaper, which eventually was distributed in several cities, these mimeographed bulletins were not circulated on a large scale and few have survived. One notable news sheet in the collection is Huey Newton's essay titled "On the Defection of Eldridge Cleaver from the Black Panther Party and the Defection of the Black Panther Party from the Black Community" -- which Newton wrote after his release from prison in 1973. Huey Newton authored the majority of the essays in this collection.
The descriptive content in this note was adapted from the seller's (Auger Down Books) description of the material.

Conditions Governing Access

Advance notice required for access.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Preferred Citation

[Box/folder no. or item name], Black Panther Party news sheets, Collection no. 7116, Regional History Collection, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased from Auger Down Books, March 31, 2021.

Related Materials

Black Panther Party publications, Collection no. 6050, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

African Americans -- California -- Los Angeles -- History -- 20th century -- Archival resources
African Americans -- History -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Arab-Israeli conflict -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Police brutality -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Police misconduct -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Political activists -- California -- Archival resources
Bulletins
Black Panther Party -- Archives
Black Panther Party. Southern California Chapter -- Archives
Newton, Huey P. -- Archives

Folder 1

On the Defection of Eldridge Cleaver from the Black Panther Party and the Defection of the Black Panther Party from the Black Community 1973

Creator: Newton, Huey P.

Scope and Contents

Four long mimeographed sheets, signed in type, Huey P. Newton, Minister of Defense, Servant of the People, stapled at the top. Np [Oakland, circa 1973.] Upon his release from prison, Newton returned to find the party in a state of disarray. One of his first moves was to remove Eldridge Cleaver from the party, replacing him with Elaine Brown as Minister of Information. Newton calls for an open, militant party, and laments the move "underground."
Folder 1

Defense Bulletin, press release 1968-08-22

Creator: Newton, Huey P.

Scope and Contents

3 sheets of mimeographed paper, yellow, blue and orange; stapled, printed on rectos only. Signed in type on the second page "L.A. Committee for Defense of the Bill of Rights." August 22, 1968. The "Defense Bulletin, press release" cites several examples of police brutality and recklessness, including the murder of unarmed Black men, offenses to Mexican-Americans, protesters, and a lack of campus rights for protesting students. The bulletin cites an example of a young Black man and a young white man who are detained for no reason.
Folder 1

A treatise on the politics of art 1969

Creator: Newton, Huey P.
Creator: Black Panther Party. Southern California Chapter

Scope and Contents

Black Panther Party, Southern California Chapter. Three pages of text, on two long mimeographed pages, stapled at the top; second page somewhat toned with a small chip from the top of the page, not affecting the text. [Oakland, circa 1969.] A treatise on the politics of art, written by Huey Newton and representing the entirety of those involved in the Costa-Gavras film Z, a group which included Yves Montand, Irene Pappas, Simone Signoret, and others. Costa-Gavras had lent a copy of the film to the Black Panthers to use in fundraising for legal defense efforts. Newton states: "Art must be and in fact is, a world that exists outside of reality."
Folder 1

Palestine and Israel, excerpts from a press conference 1970-08-26

Scope and Contents

Three long mimeographed pages, printed on rectos only. [Oakland], 1970. In this essay, Huey Newton advocates for a separate state for African Americans, while articulating the Panther party line on the Israel/Palestine issue. Newton calls for the establishment of a secular state in Israel that recognizes Palestinian citizens. He compares the persecution of African Americans, under "American Imperialism," to the situation in Palestine.
Folder 1

The Role of the Church and the Survival Program 1973

Creator: Newton, Huey P.

Scope and Contents

Three, long mimeographed sheets, stapled at the top. Np [Oakland, circa 1973.] The Black Panthers produced a series of "Survival Programs" from 1972 to 1981, designed for the Black community. Some of the issues covered were classes to correct revisionist portrayals in white textbooks, public health initiatives like breakfasts for children and sickle-cell anemia testing, and the church as a platform for survival. In this bulletin Newton addresses the role the church has played in social change, first in Christianizing slave populations and then in a second more militant period beginning with Nat Turner.