The American Civil Rights Movement of the early 1960s dismantled legal segregation and expanded black enfranchisement in the United States, with the 1964 Civil Rights Act and 1965 Voting Rights Act codifying their inspiring victories. But once there was little legal segregation left to defy, the insurgent Civil Rights Movement fell apart.

For many blacks, the Civil Rights Movement’s victories proved limited, even illusory. Although black people were formally full citizens, most remained ghettoised, impoverished, and politically subordinated, with few channels for redress.

During this time the Black Panther Party emerged and claimed to be the steward of the black community – its legitimate political representative – standing in revolutionary opposition to the oppressive ‘power structure’. But unlike many other organisations, the Panthers made common cause with the domestic anti-war movement and anti-imperialist movements abroad.

The Black Panther Party challenged police brutality, but also provided community help, such as education, tuberculosis testing, legal aid, transportation assistance, ambulance service, and the manufacture and distribution of free shoes to poor people.

The FBI described the party as “the greatest threat to the internal security of the country”.

Please join Edinburgh Greens and Chardine Taylor-Stone – feminist activist, writer and musician - to learn about the history of the Black Panthers and find out what the Greens, or the wider left movement, can learn from their struggle.

You can learn more about Chardine on her website: https://chardinetaylorstone.com/

Green Talk will take place from 7:30 to 8:30 and is open to the public.

Link to event will be provided to all Edinburgh Branch members and everyone registered through Eventbrite a day before the event. Please share with family and friends.

Event will be recorded.

Green Talk: What can we learn from the Black Panthers?