Ten-Point Program facts for kids

The Ten-Point Program is a set of important goals and ideas created by the Black Panther Party. It was written in 1966 by two of the party's founders, Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale. This program was inspired by key American documents like the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. It laid out what the Black Panther Party wanted to achieve for Black people in the United States.

Understanding the Program

The Ten-Point Program is divided into two main parts. The first part is called "What We Want Now!" This section lists the specific things the Black Panther Party demanded from American society. The second part is titled "What We Believe," and it explains the core ideas and philosophy behind the party's demands.

The Ten-Point Program's Goals

What We Want Now!

This part of the program lists ten specific demands the Black Panther Party had for the United States:

• We want freedom and the power for Black communities to decide their own future.
• We want jobs for all Black people.
• We want an end to unfair practices by businesses that harm Black and oppressed communities.
• We want good homes for everyone, places that are safe and fit for people to live in.
• We want an education system that teaches Black people their true history and their important role in society today.
• We want Black men to be excused from serving in the military.
• We want an immediate stop to police violence and killings of Black people.
• We want all Black people held in prisons and jails to be set free.
• We want Black people to be tried in court by a jury made up of people from their own Black communities, as allowed by the U.S. Constitution.
• We want land, food, housing, education, clothes, fairness, and peace for all.

What We Believe

This section explains the beliefs that support the demands listed above:

• We believe Black people will not truly be free until they can control their own lives and communities.
• We believe the government should make sure everyone has a job or a steady income. If businesses do not provide enough jobs, we believe the community should control how things are made and sold, so everyone can be employed and have a good life.
• We believe that the government owes Black people for the past injustices of slavery. We demand payment that can be used to help Black communities.
• We believe that if landlords do not provide good housing for Black communities, then homes and land should be shared and managed by the community. This way, with government help, people can build and have decent places to live.
• We believe in an education system that helps Black people understand themselves and their place in the world. Knowing who you are is important for everything else.
• We believe Black people should not be forced to fight in the military for a government that does not protect them. We will not fight and kill other people of color around the world who are also treated unfairly by the American government. We believe in protecting ourselves from violent police and military forces.
• We believe we can stop police brutality by forming Black self-defense groups. These groups would protect Black communities from unfair police actions. The Second Amendment gives people the right to own weapons, and we believe Black people should arm themselves for self-defense.
• We believe all Black people should be released from jails and prisons because they have not received fair trials.
• We believe courts should follow the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which says a person has the right to be tried by their peers. A peer is someone with a similar background. This means juries for Black defendants should come from the Black community. We believe all-white juries do not understand the experiences of Black people.
• We believe that when a government becomes harmful to its people, the people have the right to change or get rid of it. This idea comes from the Declaration of Independence. We believe that after many abuses, it is the right and duty of the people to create a new government that ensures their safety and happiness.