Bunchy Carter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bunchy Carter
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| Born | October 12, 1942 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Died | January 17, 1969 (aged 26) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Cause of death | Murder |
| Resting place | Woodlawn Memorial Park, Compton, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Mayor of the Ghetto |
| Citizenship | American |
| Occupation | Activist |
| Years active | 1967–1969 |
| Known for | Leader of the Los Angeles chapter Black Panther Party |
| Political party | Black Panther Party |
Alprentice "Bunchy" Carter (born October 12, 1942 – died January 17, 1969) was an American activist. He is known for helping to start the Southern California chapter of the Black Panther Party. Carter was killed by a rival group. Many of his supporters remember him as a hero in the Black Power movement in the United States. You might have seen him portrayed by Gaius Charles in the 2015 TV series Aquarius.
Bunchy Carter's Early Life
In the early 1960s, Bunchy Carter was part of a group in Los Angeles. He became known as the "Mayor of the Ghetto" because of his leadership. Later, Carter was sent to Soledad prison for four years.
While in prison, Carter learned a lot from the teachings of Malcolm X. He became interested in new ideas about freedom and justice. After he was released, Carter met Huey Newton. Newton was one of the people who started the Black Panther Party. In 1967, Carter decided to join the party.
Leading the Black Panther Party in California
In early 1968, Bunchy Carter helped create the Southern California chapter of the Black Panther Party (BPP). He quickly became a key leader in this new group. Like other Black Panther chapters, his group focused on learning about politics. They also read important Party writings. Members received training in using firearms safely and in first aid.
One of their most famous programs was the "Free Breakfast for Children". This program gave meals to children in need in their community. The chapter grew very quickly. By April 1968, they were gaining 50 to 100 new members every week. Important members included Elaine Brown and Geronimo Pratt.
The FBI director, J. Edgar Hoover, saw the Black Panthers as a big challenge. The FBI started a secret operation called COINTELPRO to watch and disrupt the party. Later, it was shown that the FBI worked with the Los Angeles Police Department. They tried to make it hard for party members to operate.
The "Breakfast for Children Program" was very important to the Black Panthers. Hoover believed it was their most influential activity. He saw it as a threat to efforts to stop the party. The breakfast program faced many challenges. Members were often arrested, though charges were usually dropped quickly. The FBI also tried to create disagreements within the Black Panther Party.
In Southern California, the Black Panthers also had a rivalry with another group called Organization Us. This group was started by Ron Karenga. The two groups had different goals and ways of doing things. They often competed to get new members. This rivalry became very strong in 1969. Both groups supported different people to lead a new studies center at UCLA.
