Who co-founded the Black Panther Party with Bobby Seale in Oakland in 1966?

Huey P. Newton co-founded the Black Panther Party with Bobby Seale in Oakland in 1966.

Newton and Seale established the organization in October 1966 as the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. Its early platform emphasized community control, protection from police brutality, economic justice, and the political empowerment of Black communities.

The party became known for observing police activity while carrying firearms, which was legal under California law at the time. It also developed community programs, including free breakfast services for children and health initiatives.

The Black Panthers were part of the broader Black Power era, which increasingly emphasized self-determination and community institutions. The FBI’s COINTELPRO campaign targeted the party, while internal disputes and police confrontations contributed to its decline.