New Panther Vanguard Movement facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
New Panther Vanguard Movement
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| Chairperson | B. Kwaku Duren |
| Founders | B. Kwaku Duren Shareef Abdullah Charles "Boko" Freeman |
| Founded | October 15, 1994 |
| Dissolved | 2002(?) |
| Ideology | Anti-Imperialism Anti-Racism Anti-capitalism Intercommunalism Wealth redistribution |
| Political position | Far-left |
| Colors | Black |
The New Panther Vanguard Movement (NPVM) was a group formed in South Central Los Angeles in 1994. It was first called the New African American Vanguard Movement (NAAVM). This group started after the Los Angeles riots of 1992. People who used to be part of the Black Panther Party and other community activists felt there was a need for strong leadership in the Black community. They decided to create an organization that would follow the ideas and community spirit of the original Black Panther Party.
Contents
How the Movement Started
Why the New Panther Vanguard Movement Formed
In 1989, Huey P. Newton, who helped start the Black Panther Party, passed away. His death made many people think about the Black Panther Party's history. This was especially true in California, where the party began in Oakland. Cities like Oakland and Los Angeles were very important for the party.
In the early 1990s, there was a lot of tension between different racial groups in America, especially in California. Events in 1992, like the Rodney King beating, showed how divided people were. These events directly led to the Los Angeles riots of 1992. Later that year, a movie about Malcolm X came out. This also made people talk more about race in America.
Founding the New African American Vanguard Movement
Because of these events, the New African American Vanguard Movement (NAAVM) was created. It started on October 15, 1994, in South Central Los Angeles. Local Black community organizers, including former members of the Black Panther Party like B. Kwaku Duren, founded the group. They said they started because of the 1992 Riots and the feeling that the African-American community in Los Angeles needed better organization.
The group was directly inspired by the Black Panther Party from the 1960s. They copied some of its ideas. For example, they wore similar clothing and created their own version of the Black Panther Party's Ten-Point Program. They also made their own newspaper, like The Black Panther newspaper.
Changes and End of the Movement
Becoming the New Panther Vanguard Movement
By 1996, the organization adopted "Intercommunalism" as their main idea. This was a theory developed by Huey P. Newton. They also started campaigning for reparations for African-Americans. Reparations mean making up for past wrongs, in this case, for slavery.
On April 19, 1997, the New African American Vanguard Movement met with members of the New Black Panther Party. After this meeting, they agreed to officially change their name to the New Panther Vanguard Movement. Both groups wanted to build a national Black Panther movement. They planned to work with other "Panther-like" groups and become more alike in their ideas and actions.
They tried to meet with another group in Milwaukee called the Black Panther Militia. However, that group was not interested at the time. (Later, in 1998, the Milwaukee group did join the New Black Panther Party). So, the two Panther groups looked towards New York City. There, a group called the "Black Panther Collective" was active. They held a meeting, but the New York group broke apart within six months.
Why the Movement Ended
The New Panther Vanguard Movement stopped operating in 2002. This happened after a fire broke out at their main office in Los Angeles, destroying it. There were also disagreements among the members, which contributed to the group's end.
