Black Liberators facts for kids
The Black Liberators was a group formed in St. Louis, Missouri in the spring of 1968. They worked for civil rights for African Americans. The group was led for most of its time by Charles Koen. He later became known for his civil rights work in Cairo, Illinois.
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Who Were the Black Liberators?
The Black Liberators were a group that aimed to help African Americans gain equal rights and respect. They were inspired by the Black Panther Party, another important civil rights group based in Chicago.
How the Group Started
The Black Liberators adopted ideas from the Black Panther Party. They wore similar military-style uniforms and used strong language to talk about Black self-determination. This means they believed Black people should control their own lives and communities.
Charles Koen, a civil rights activist from St. Louis, officially started the group in the summer of 1968. They opened their main office at 2810 Easton in downtown St. Louis.
Their Main Goals
Just like the Black Panthers had a Ten-Point Program, the Black Liberators had a five-point plan. These points showed what they wanted to achieve:
- They wanted a chance to prove themselves, just like everyone else.
- They wanted enough living space to grow and show they were full citizens.
- They planned to do things for themselves in all parts of life.
- They wanted to move forward and gain human dignity.
- They wanted enough money to make their creative ideas happen.
Important Events
On August 17, 1969, the Black Liberators helped protect Adam Clayton Powell Jr.. He was an African-American Congressman from Harlem, a historically Black neighborhood.
The next month, some incidents happened in St. Louis. The police suspected the Black Liberators were involved. After these events, the Black Liberators' office was badly damaged. Witnesses said plainclothes police officers caused the damage.
Things became more difficult eight days later. Police arrested Charles Koen and Leon Dent during a traffic stop. They were arrested for carrying something the police thought was a weapon, but it turned out to be a comb.
After their arrest, Koen and Dent received a lot of public support. Groups like the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 688, the NAACP, and the St. Louis Argus newspaper supported them.
The End of the Group
After Charles Koen's arrest, the Liberators chose Yusuf Shabazz to lead the group. However, this change led to the group's decline and eventual end.
Nine months after becoming leader, Yusuf Shabazz was arrested. During his court case, it was found that he had been secretly working with the metropolitan police. This discovery led to the end of the Black Liberators.
