User:Augiestudent.24/Free Breakfast for Children

Bibliography[edit]
Jeffries, Judson L. (2010-09-30). On the Ground: The Black Panther Party in Communities across America. Univ. Press of Mississippi. ISBN 978-1-60473-493-5.


 * This book is published under the University Press of Mississippi, so it seems to be a reliable source. this book covers topics with an in-depth analysis of various BBP chapters across the U.S.; some of the BBP chapters mentioned are not on the list of the ones provided already on the Wiki page. In the book's analysis, discussions around the free breakfast program are a prominent component (see the chapter Arm Yourself Of Harm Yourself; specifically, page 31). This source does not seem to be directly tied to when our topic took place, so it would be considered independent and a secondary source.

Potorti, Mary (2014). "Feeding Revolution: The Black Panther Party and the Politics of Food". The Radical Teacher (98): 43–51. ISSN 0191-4847.


 * This article was published by the academic journal The Radical Teacher, so it should be a reliable source. The topic in this article surrounds the importance that programs such as the free breakfast program had on implementing change within their communities. There is also mention of the power that food accessibility had in creating change as well. This source is a discussion piece on the impact the free breakfast program had; so it does not seem to be directly tied to when our topic took place. I believe this source is independent and a secondary source.

Cope, Suzanne (2021-11-09). Power Hungry: Women of the Black Panther Party and Freedom Summer and Their Fight to Feed a Movement. Chicago Review Press. ISBN 978-1-64160-455-0.


 * This book was published under the Chicago Review Press, so it seems to be a reliable source. This book delves into the life stories of two Black women and their contributions to the BPP. Through the efforts mentioned, their contributions to the free breakfast program are mentioned as well. This source is an analysis of these women's lives, so it seems to be not to be directly impacted. I believe this source is independent and a secondary source.

Article body
Black Panther Party’s Survival Program (Minor edit - swapped the order of this section with the "Women’s Roles and Contributions to the Free Breakfast Program" section)

The Free Breakfast for Children Program was one among more than 60 community social programs created by the Black Panther Party. They were renamed Survival Programs in 1971. These were operated by party members under the slogan "survival pending revolution". In addition to feeding school children, the party started People's Free Food Programs, delivering groceries, and encouraging community members to vote.

Flier picturing and promoting the Black Panther Party Free Food Program, specifically at the Black Community Survival Conference. March 1972.

Following the creation of the breakfast program came the founding of Liberation Schools. The installment of the Intercommunal Youth Institute and the People's Free Medical Research Health Institute followed in 1970. The Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation, which provided free sickle cell anemia testing, came in 1971. Another Survival Program started by the Black Panther Party was referred to as "medical self-defense" with the creation of healthcare clinics and their own ambulance services. Other survival programs included children's development centers, free clothing, free busing to prisons, free housing cooperatives, free ambulances, etc.

These programs had multiple goals including drawing community members to political rallies, dramatizing social inequalities, providing needed community services, and educating people in the ideas and program of the party. The Survival Programs solidified the Panthers' standing in the larger community. The party's daily presence in the neighborhoods with breakfast, child care, and other programs changed the impression of the Panthers. They were seen as community leaders that actively worked to help the people around them.

Women’s Roles and Contributions to the Free Breakfast Program (minor edit - changed the title of this section)

The Black Panther Party began as a predominantly male organization but later grew to recruit large numbers of women. With the rise in women's membership, the Party recruited primarily women to staff the Free Breakfast for Children program. Women’s roles and responsibilities within the Black Panther party were often stereotyped and marginalized and this often reinforced traditional gender norms, which gained pushback from the Party's women in the effort to achieve gender equality. The Party's service programs were deeply gendered and often relied on women to fill service roles'''. Despite women's crucial roles in organizing, logistics, and community outreach, they were frequently demoted to support roles, such as cooking, childcare, and administrative tasks. This limited portrayal undermined their leadership potential and downplayed their significant contributions to the movement. With similar oppressive roles in the Free Breakfast for Children programs, women's duties and responsibilities comprised of maternal roles in the program’s kitchens and serving roles, further highlighting the gender struggles within the Black Panther Party. minor edit - added information and a citation to this section)'''

Add a photo depicting women working within the Free Breakfast Program (PHOTO WOULD NOT UPLOAD)

Taken from here: https://practice.malvinharrison.com/gallery/

(minor edit - will add a photo to the "Women’s Roles and Contributions to the Free Breakfast Program")

Major edit - added this paragraph - '''The involvement of the women within their BPP chapters was greater than what they have been recognized for within their communities. A notable contribution to the party’s mission towards providing free services such as the Free Breakfast for Children program was made by Frankye Adams-Johnson, co-founder of the White Plains Black Panther Party chapter. Similar to the responsibilities and jobs designated to the men, many of these duties in the White Plains chapter were fulfilled by women in the party. Specifically looking at their Free Breakfast for Children program, Johnson’s chapter organized and coordinated the logistics of this program, securing food donations and managing operations. The women were also responsible for cooking nutritious meals and ensuring they met dietary needs. The existence of Black Panther Party chapters founded and run by women showed equal commitment to what the Party stood for. Moreover, women-based Free Breakfast programs within chapters founded by women helped to lessen the stereotypes often associated with women's roles in the Party.'''

Locations of the Free Breakfast Program (minor edit - title change)
(minor edit - deleted Minneapolis section because I couldn't find any sources that supported the info)

Seattle (minor edit - title change)
The Washington chapter of the Black Panther Party experienced support from a Seattle native, Jimi Hendrix. He would often send donations to the Seattle chapter of the BPP's free breakfast program. The support of the Washington chapter did not end there. Thanks to the Washington chapter's decision to also serve white and Asian families, community support increased, allowing the chapter to expand to five different locations. Beyond providing free meals, the Washington chapter sent out free groceries every Wednesday to families in the Seattle community. (Minor edit - reworded paragraphs)

The Seattle chapter of the Black Panther Party met the needs of numerous ethnic groups because the black population in Seattle was not as high as in other areas. The attention to their specific community needs earned the Seattle chapter a reputation of being influential both in Washington and in the United States in general. The Seattle, Washington chapter's free breakfast program lasted longer than the majority of other programs. They continued to provide free breakfast to impoverished children past the chapter's official closing date in 1977. (Minor edit - added in citation)

Kansas City (Major edit - added in Kansas City section)
The Kansas City chapter of the Black Panther Party was led by Peter O’Neal and was composed of working-class, underclass, and middle-class African Americans. Originally the Kansas City chapter of the BPP was known as the black vigilantes. However, when they gained formal admission to the BPP they changed their name. The main focus of the Kansas City chapter was the discontentment of the African American working class, black youth, and building survival programs.

The Kansas City chapter of the Black Panther Party successfully started two sites where free breakfast for school children was offered. In order to keep the program going members of the Kansas City chapter visited local entrepreneurs and requested donations. The support they received allowed the Kansas City chapter to not only feed the black community but also offer political education classes and free health screenings.

Des Moines (Major edit - added in Des Moines section)
The Des Moines chapter of the Black Panther Party was successful in organizing a free breakfast program for children. The Des Moines Panthers fed elementary and junior high school children of different races and backgrounds. In order to continue to fund the breakfast program in Des Moines churches of all denominations would donate food and money.

Along with organizing a free breakfast program for children, the Des Moines chapter also organized health programs for adults. Under the leadership of Mary Rhem, the Des Moines chapter was successful in not only making their survival programs successful but also making their work known to the public. Thanks to multiple members of the Des Moines chapter making connections with community groups their work and goals were spread to the public. The Des Moines Register even published an article on the work of the breakfast program in Des Moines.

Houston (Major edit - added the Houston section)

'''The chapter of the Black Panther Party in Houston, Texas took three waves to establish between 1968 and 1974 until their chapter was recognized as an official BPP chapter. The implementation of the Houston chapter didn’t gain importance in their community until Carl Hampton established the People's Party II (PP II) in 1970; his murder would play a pivotal role in their chapter gaining membership. By October 1971, PP II members received authorization to establish the Houston BPP branch. This final formation lasted approximately three years before it was forced to dissolve in August 1974, following orders from the national BPP leadership to relocate to Oakland. '''

'''During the final wave of the Houston chapter’s implementation, they were able to fully perform the roles and responsibilities similar to other more prominent chapters. While the free pest control project was a program that remained successful through their recognition phase, they were finally able to include the large programs that were run in the other Party’s chapters—free food giveaways, and sickle cell anemia and other health preventive testing. One of their most successful programs—after many failed attempts of implementation—was the Free Breakfast for Children Program implemented in March 1973. While other chapters had support from their local churches for the Free Breakfast program, the Houston chapter had a lack of support from local churches. Since the members of the Houston chapter were determined to provide this program for their community, their first program was held in the Dew Drop Inn, a neighborhood beer joint on Dowling Street. '''

Legacy (minor edit - added in information about education)
The success of the Black Panther Party's Free Breakfast for Children program helped reduce hunger and food insecurity while pressuring state and federal governments to expand their services. The program showed how hunger could affect a child's ability to learn and advocated for the need for similar programs nationwide. The program showed the government's failure in the War on Poverty and their lack of support for addressing childhood hunger.

Within six months, the Black Panther Party had Free Breakfast Programs distributed in 23 cities across the United States and had served over 20,000 kids between 1969 and 1970 alone; expanding to as many as 36 cities by 1971 (pp. 45).The Panthers would also often educate youth and parents on black history, black pride, and community uplift during the free meals. The BPP had over 5,000 members spread out in 45 chapters across the United States which inspired federally funded programs in schools to provide free meals. Established in 1966, the US Department of Agriculture would create school breakfast programs for underprivileged children. These programs are inherently rooted in the Black Panther Party’s belief that children cannot learn without adequate nutrition.

However, it would be a decade or more before free breakfasts would become almost universally available to poor children. In California, the party pushed Ronald Reagan's administration to create a state-wide free breakfast program, and while the federally funded School Breakfast Program was first piloted in 1966, congress only permanently authorized it in 1975. '''However, this campaign for providing a state-wide free breakfast program was not only established to help provide free meals. Rather, an underlining objective of this state-wide implementation was not for the benefit of the children it would be helping but to seize the political power the Black Panther Party had received with their implementation of the Free Breakfast Program (CITE). Additionally, the implementation of this government-funded free breakfast program would cause controversy due to budget cuts made during Reagan’s presidency which would lead to widespread poverty across the United States (CITE).'''