One thing I have been disgusted with since I stepped foot on the ACU campus is the ignorance which is so prevalent here about the true struggle of black people.

This ignorance was exemplified in a small article I read last week entitled "Chapel Apology Not Necessary." I fully agree with the title because Matt Worthington, whom I spoke to personally after his speech, did not need to apologize for what he said. I myself didn’t ask for it. I didn’t even think he would after I spoke to him, but I respected his opinion and we agreed to disagree, even though his comment was not the entirety of his speech.

However, The Black Panther Party was not a group based on hate and anger. They were a group who retaliated and responded to hate and anger. There have been over 100 million black or African people murdered by white supremist in the Western Hemisphere alone, since we were forced here 400 plus years ago. Just a few months ago, in New York, policemen fired more than 50 shots at an unarmed black man named Sean Bell and eventually killed him.

What are we, as black people, supposed to do when violent hate groups in America attack us? Invite them in for tea? Absolutely not. We should fight back, just as  America  did when Osama Bin Laden attacked you on September the 11th.

The BPP were not a group of "hate and anger" as you put it, and here is why:

The BPP organized various different programs for poor children and people such as, free breakfast and lunch programs, free health clinics, free clothing drives, community campaigns to stop drugs, crime and they stopped a large percentage of police brutality against black people. They didn’t believe in violence, but if they were attacked they fought back.

Although it may be unknown to many, the BPP influenced many of the governmental programs that help millions of underprivileged black, brown, red, yellow and white people today. 

Therefore, Panthers were not a hate group; they were a group who spoke, fought, and stood against the hate and murder of my people.

Brandon Cooks
senior journalism major from Abilene