Survival Programs & Initiatives

Survival Programs and Initiatives

While the BPP’s sensationalized persona made them famous, it overshadowed their commitment to Black neighborhoods, evidenced by their survival programs and local newspaper.161 Members were active in various forms of community service – they advocated for school stop-signs, escorted seniors collecting their Social Security checks, delivering groceries, provided legal counseling, etc. These social services were part of the Ten-Point Platform and Program. While the BPP would initiate these programs, their goal was for the people to take them over. Newton’s philosophy was that the programs were not solutions, but they were a response to the deep needs of the community and a demonstration of how to build a community. He referred to them as “A survival kit” and explained: “That is why we call them survival programs, meaning survival pending revolution...If they have a need, we will serve their needs and attempt to get them to understand the true reasons why they are in need in such an incredibly rich land.”