How do the tenets of Black Power and the Black liberation movement find expression in the poetry of the Black Arts Movement?
The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense created a 10 Point Program on October 15, 1966. As a reformation of the Bill of Rights and the U.S Declaration of Independence, the 10 Point Program is a list of wants and demands from the Black community. Along came a list of goals written by members of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. As stated in the first section: “We Want Freedom. We Want Power To Determine The Destiny Of Our Black Community.” Written, it reads “We Want Power To Determine The Destiny Of Our Black Community”, meaning the Party wanted a say in the legacy and ongoing path for the future of their community. The 10 Point Program did just that. Not only did they start and create various influential acts and services (such as the Free Breakfast Program and Black Student Unions), but they also influenced and inspired many Black writers and creators to expand on their craft alone. Whether that may be publishing books, art, music, or poetry. The Black Panther Party for Sel...
