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Legacy Keepers Bridge Gap Between Black Panthers and BLM

Published

6 years ago

September 11, 2020

B.P.P. Legacy Keepers (left to right) Amin Cooley's daughter Anaya Cooley, Co-Founder Amin Cooley, Co-founder Dr. Saturu Ned, Dr. Zafirah Ned. Photo by Michelle Snider.

The original Black Panther Party (1966-1982) left behind a legacy that is often side-lined by the imagery of Black men and women carrying guns in self-defense while wearing black berets and leather jackets. The legacy had been stifled as many party members became political prisoners, and without knowing it at the time, targets of an FBI program called COINTELPRO meant to destroy the party using various deceptive tactics.

With programs like free breakfast and lunch for school children, free health clinics and educational institutions, the BPP created over 60 documented community programs they called survival programs. Many of these programs have become a blueprint for activists today. The BPP created these programs acknowledging that the government was not going to come to communities and do the work of improving them, so the communities had to organize and build structural programs for themselves.

Founded in Oakland, with branches eventually spreading all over the U.S., the BPP believed the only way to create economic stability and self-sufficiency in Black communities was through a combined effort of the people who are from and part of their communities. That is where the term they often use, “All Power to the People,” comes from.

After the death of George Floyd sparked historical nationwide protests under the banner of Black Lives Matter, activists eagerly called original BPP member Saturu Ned looking for advice on how to maneuver what they saw as a modern-day revolution. Formerly known as James Mott, Ned became a BPP member in 1968 and was a member of the BPP’s Lumpen Band. He also taught at Oakland Community School, an award-winning school created by the BPP.

Amin Cooley was one of those activists who called Ned feeling frustrated and angry after watching the video of George Floyd’s death by police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Cooley is from Oakland and was raised in a time when crack cocaine dominated the streets. He saw how it affected his community. He looked up to the BPP legacy but admits he did not know too much about its history.

When he was young, he went to see ‘Panther’ a film directed and written by Mario Van Peebles. “And this was like, a secret premiere, and I was like ‘wow, this is the first time I actually get to meet some Black Panthers,’” Cooley said. When he attended the premier he was not able to build up the nerve to talk to the original members who were present, but he remembered the movie making a big impression on him.

“It was about the community and I wanted to be a part of that. And I’ve always looked up to them my whole life. And when George Lloyd was murdered by the police, I cried, I cried really hard,” Cooley said. After sleeping all day he said he woke up the next day, “with a fire in my heart and my soul.”

Cooley reached out to a friend who knew Ned. Cooley said he told his friend, “We got to see the Black Panther Party back or at least the programs and the ideology because they have the blueprint in their head.”

Cooley connected with Ned, and they both became co-founders of B.P.P. Legacy Keepers. Under one non-profit with contributions being tax-deductible through the Pledge Group Foundation 501(c)3, B.P.P., Legacy Keepers is seeking to build a network of “legacy keepers” who are already doing community work as well as educate anyone who wants to bridge the gap of knowledge from the time of the BPP to the present.

Being an original Black Panther Party member is not required to be a legacy keeper. Anyone who is doing work similar to that of the original BPP like providing food, healthcare, housing, and legal support would be considered a legacy keeper of the original movement.

Calling for national access-for-all healthcare, advocating for affordable housing, working towards changing the justice system, all of these current-day political discussions fall in line with the BPP 10-point program.

The problem, Ned explained, is that today there is no clear leadership or messaging. He calls the current cycle of video recordings of Black people being killed by police followed up with marches and a hashtag to donate money a “death march” that has no clear vision or accountability. Marching has the purpose of raising attention to a problem, he said, but there is work to be done beyond that.

Legacy Keepers instructs their network users in the methodology of identifying what’s going on in communities and figuring out how to resolve community issues and problems. The problems are intertwined, so working on the idea of police reform or defunding the police would have to collate with other issues in communities, like healthcare, mental health, job security, housing, and food security.

Instruction is based on the BPP legacy using modern technology like classes over Zoom and studying how video phones and social media can be used for effective strategies.

With Ned’s wife, Dr. Zafirah Ned, other instructors available to teach these classes include Katherine Campbell, (Auntie) Francis Moore, and Professor Steve McCutchen. The B.P.P. Legacy Keepers network includes hundreds of individuals, organizations and businesses all over the country.

Cooley represents the younger generation who is learning under the guidance of Ned and will be an instructor as well. Saturu Ned has already done classes on Zoom to universities like Fresno State.

“We are giving classes to policymakers on a national basis, giving Zoom presentations to individuals who want to see how they can actually increase the effectiveness of their organizations,” Ned said. “with other organizations…switching from the concept of just Black Lives Matter, first the historical classes, and then the ideology. We’ll separate myths from fact.” The purpose Ned said, is to start conversations into specific plans and to turn plans into action.

“You’re talking about defunding the police. Every time we hear that, do we not ask where’s your plan?” Ned said. So far, he said he has not heard a concept with a detailed plan that could feasibly be turned into action, and that is a problem that organizing and educating current day legacy keepers can solve.

For more information go to bpplegacykeepers.com.

Michelle Snider

Associate Editor for The Post News Group. Writer, Photographer, Videographer, Copy Editor, and website editor documenting local events in the Oakland-Bay Area California area.

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NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts found Darius Cooper with nine seconds left for the game winning touchdown as his team beat the Tennessee Titans 24-20 in Nashville. Hurts finished the day 26/37 for 264 yards. He threw for two touchdowns and two interceptions. Prior to the final drive, the Eagles ran 25 plays for 45 […]
The post NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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1 week ago

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Oakland Post

Prior to the final drive, the Eagles ran 25 plays for 45 yards. During the final drive Hurts went 6-8 with 61 passing yards and the touchdown. Titans defensive tackle — and team captain — Jeffery Simmons said this week that the way to defend Jalen Hurts is to make him “play quarterback.”

Hurts said to Simmons after today’s game: “You started that sh**. I had to finish it.”

Running back Saquon Barkley suffered a stinger in the first half but he ultimately finished the game. He had four carries and nine yards and one catch for eleven yards. He will get an MRI for his injury, but admitted to Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network he was fine.

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Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was helped off the field with a right leg injury with 7:42 remaining in the fourth quarter. Williams was down, writhing in pain after scrambling to his left. After departing the injury tent, Williams raised his right fist, acknowledging the crowd while expressing his frustration. Testing will commence on Monday to find out more details about his injury.

“We’ll know tomorrow,” Johnson admitted regarding Williams’ injury. “He’s in good spirits. He’s a team player.”

Williams finished the day with 138 passing yards and one interception.

“I’m actually happy it’s nothing with the knee — that was my first inclination,” Johnson said. “But, a hamstring could be pretty damaging as well. So, we’ll see. We’ll see how bad it is tomorrow and we’ll go from there.”

Bryce Young once again dominated the Falcons

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is 5-1 against the Atlanta Falcons and is undefeated at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Today, Young threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns as he led the Panthers to a 34-3 dismembering of the Atlanta Falcons. Georgia Tech alumnus Darren Waller caught two touchdowns and linebacker Devin Lloyd returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown.

Cooper Rush started his second straight game for the Falcons and it did not go well. The partisan crowd voiced their displeasure after Rush completed 10/17 passes for 86 yards and two interceptions. Jack Strand entered the game for Rush prompting cheers from the Falcons fans. The rookie threw a pick-six on his first career pass attempt. Strand was the first QB to accomplish that feat since Sam Darnold in 2018 and is the first Falcons player to do that since Brett Favre in 1991. Strand finished the day with 59 passing yards and 16 rushing yards.

According to reports, quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. is expected to make his season debut this Thursday at the Green Bay Packers. His return should help the Falcons. They are the first team since the 2008 Rams to not run any plays in the red zone after the first two games to open a season.

The bright spots for the Falcons today were the Spelman College Jaguarettes performing with the Falcons cheerleaders and Florida A&M’s marching band, The Marching 100, also performed during halftime!

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He was later ruled out.

Daniels suffered a dislocated elbow to the same arm during week nine of last season against the Washington Commanders, which led to him being shut down for the remainder of the season.

The post NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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The post The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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Negotiation framework stages, tactics, and winning strategies from AutoNetwork

Roosevelt Gist and Roosevelt deliver the complete vehicle-purchase negotiation framework in Episode 8 of The Color of Our Money Is Green. This episode covers the three foundations of every effective negotiation, the full seven-stage negotiation sequence with exact language for every stage, and five of the most common dealership tactics with the specific response each one requires.
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The complete seven-stage car-buying negotiation sequence
Exact language for every stage of the dealership conversation
Five common dealership tactics — the turnover, the four-square, the packed payment, spot delivery, and forced add-ons — and how to counter each one
Why signing preliminary paperwork isn’t the same as signing the final contract
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“The Color of Our Money Is Green: A Buyer’s Guide to What Cars Actually Cost” — stan.store/RGist
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AutoNetwork helps serious car shoppers inspect any new vehicle online before walking into a dealership. I’m Roosevelt — I’ve been reviewing cars and shaping digital car buying and credit union auto leasing since before YouTube car reviews existed.
You’ll find detailed walkaround reviews, POV test drives, and buyer-focused breakdowns covering comfort, space, features, and real-world value.

How to use the channel:
Watch the walkaround of the car you’re considering
Visit AutoNetwork.com for the full review
Check CouponsOffersAndDeals.com for current dealer specials
Walk in already knowing what you want — and what it should cost

AutoNetwork.com
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Affiliate disclosure: some links earn a small commission at no cost to you and help support the channel. Insta360 is one of those partners.

The post The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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The post Mazda CX-90 Luxury: Heated Seats & Premium Comfort! #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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