What lies beneath Essay Example
What lies beneath Essay Example

What lies beneath Essay Example

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  • Pages: 9 (2220 words)
  • Published: February 5, 2019
  • Type: Essay
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Humans are intrinsically equal, but divisions created by individuals based on factors such as race, gender, religion, and culture contribute to a world that lacks stability. However, with time people learn to peacefully coexist. This segregation became evident in the 1960s when African Americans were subject to different treatment compared to white individuals. Despite facing considerable suffering, black people began advocating for their rights through organizations like the Black Panther Party For Self-Defense, which played a crucial role in the Civil Rights Movement. In October 1966, Henry P. Newton and Bobby Seale founded the BPP in Oakland, California. The BPP then expanded its presence across black urban neighborhoods nationwide. Richmond, California was one city where this racial transformation was particularly noticeable. In Richmond resided the Christiansens—a white family—in a predominantly black neighborhood during the Civil Rights

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Movement era. Dextra Christiansen personally experienced how racial changes affected the United States at that time as she formed friendships with black children due to the scarcity of white residents in her community. However, Dextra's parents witnessed a white neighbor being killed by members of the Black Panthers, causing them to worry about Dextra interacting with African Americans. Despite her parents' concerns and their prohibition on engaging with individuals from a different race, Dextra—an tall blond girl—managed to establish friendships with black children.
Dextra was faced with a difficult decision between her friends and her parents' perspectives on racial interaction. This predicament was worsened by the widespread segregation in society during that time. Dextra grew up surrounded by the belief in white superiority that was deeply ingrained in American households. Despite feeling isolated, she found solace in forming friendships wit

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black boys through playing basketball together.

However, as she moved to different cities, law enforcement started conducting raids on Black Panther Party (BPP) offices and homes. These actions resulted in arrests and even murders of BPP members, which greatly frightened her parents. In response, they strictly prohibited any form of interaction with individuals from different races.

The BPP also experienced corruption within its leadership, leading to a lack of unity across various cities. COINTELPRO ultimately aimed at intimidating and corrupting top BPP leaders such as Huey P. Newton, Bobby Seale, and Eldridge Cleaver. The goal behind these actions was to dismantle the BPP and disillusion African Americans for years to come.

One major flaw within the BPP was its combination of both above-ground and underground activities. This allowed members engaged in armed operations at night to openly participate during the day as well.

Overall, these events had a lasting impact on Dextra's life and served to undermine trust in African leaders and organizations that fought against Black oppression by offering genuine solutions.The BPP faced police raids on their offices and members' homes, justified by false pretexts such as searching for suspects, fugitives, weapons, or explosives. As a result, the organization was constantly defending itself from unwinnable positions. However, despite internal corruption, there were still dedicated members determined to ensure its survival and make positive contributions to the community. What set the BPP apart from previous Black organizations was its strong emphasis on self-defense, which resonated with youth and garnered a mass following. Throughout history, it has been clear that governments will use their police and military powers against any group aiming to emancipate African people; thus self-defense is crucial

for any Black organization at great risk if neglected. The BPP focused exclusively on serving Blacks as a nationalist organization with the goal of achieving national liberation within the U.S., while also being a revolutionary socialist group advocating for a socialist revolution in American society. Implementing their "serving the people" policy helped them gain members and mass support by residing among communities and addressing their daily issues. In Richmond, faith played an important role in survival within an increasingly corrupt country where church and religion held significant importance in people's lives.Despite Dextra's parents being devout churchgoers, there was a segregation between the black and white communities who did not worship together, despite sharing religious roots. After World War II in the late 1940s, Dextra's parents got married. Her mother worked at the Mill Blocks in Texas while her father grew up with thirteen siblings in Southern Missouri and left school to work in fields. Coming from slave owners in the 1800s, Dextra was taught to fear black individuals and believe she was superior; associating with them posed great danger. A few years before Dextra's birth, her parents moved westward for better opportunities. Her mother became the first female butcher at Safe Way while her father worked at a refinery. Through hard work, they were able to purchase a small house (known as shanties) previously owned by mill owners in a lower middle-class area of town. In 1955 when Dextra was four years old, integration occurred within her neighborhood as other races such as Blacks and Koreans moved in. They lived near both a railroad and the Country Jail.The true historical significance of the Black Panther

Party (BPP) on the Black Liberation Movement (BLM) will be evaluated.

Note: The provided text contains grammatical errors that have been corrected for clarity in thisversion.Although the BPP made some errors, it also achieved success and contributed to the cause of BLM. It is possible that history will show that the BPP's introduction of armed struggle played a crucial role in pursuing genuine freedom and ultimately led to victory for BLM. In 1962, Dextra attended a high school where she faced discrimination due to physical differences compared to her peers, with some black students supporting her while others turned against her. This period coincided with significant events such as the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and the rise of Malcolm X as an influential figure. Witnessing Malcolm X being fatally shot during a speech at Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan in 1965 had long-lasting effects on people's lives and influenced the trajectory of the American nation. Despite her young age, Dextra strongly believed in racial equality and actively participated in marches for equal rights among all races during her teenage years. A profound interview with Mrs. Dextra Christiansen, an American and my friend's mother, deeply inspired me and made me realize that historical books and TV have limitations when it comes to capturing the true essence of history.As a young historian, I discovered my limited knowledge of hidden truths within old papers and books. I am grateful for the chance to expand my perspective on important events in American history and share incredible moments with those I interview. The division among humans based on race, gender, religion, and culture disrupts harmony and creates an unstable world.

However, over time, people gradually learn to coexist with each other. This separation was evident in the 1960s when African Americans faced different treatment compared to their white counterparts. During this period, blacks suffered greatly and began fighting for their rights through organizations like the Black Panther Party For Self-Defense (BPP). Established in October 1966 by Henry P. Newton and Bobby Seale in Oakland, California, the BPP quickly expanded throughout black urban communities across the country. Richmond, California also witnessed this racial transformation as Mrs. Dextra Christiansen lived with her white family in a predominantly black neighborhood during the Civil Rights Movement. Despite her parents' concerns, Dextra formed friendships with black children in her neighborhood due to her own experiences of racial inequality while growing up impoverished in the South. However, when her parents witnessed a white neighbor's murder by the Black Panthers, their fear for Dextra's safety intensified and they prohibited her from associating with African Americans.Despite her concerns, Dextra continued to maintain friendships with black children, grappling with conflicting truths. She had two strong reasons for doing so: one was based on her personal connection with her friends and the other was rooted in her parents' beliefs and their directive to avoid interacting with people of different skin color whom she saw as friends. This segregation prompted pondering about whether true equality exists among us all. Her parents justified this division by citing its origins in the 1930s when segregation was widespread and socially acceptable.

Throughout her upbringing, Dextra sensed a prevalent belief in white supremacy emanating from many American households. According to her parents' account, even back in the 1930s there existed clear

separation between black and white individuals; black people worked in fields while impoverished whites enjoyed marginally better conditions. With each relocation to new cities, Dextra witnessed military raids conducted by police departments on BPP (Black Panther Party) offices or residences which resulted in deaths and arrests within the Panthers' ranks.

Despite being a tall blond girl at the time, Dexter felt isolated and began forming friendships with black individuals by playing basketball together. However, her parents were extremely concerned for her safety and prohibited any contact or playtime with people of a different race.The BPP leadership encountered issues of corruption and disunity among its various chapters as a result of COINTELPRO's effective tactics of intimidation and manipulation on key leaders like Huey P. Newton, Bobby Seale, and Eldridge Cleaver. These leaders yielded to pressure and deliberately took actions with the intention of dismantling the BPP and disillusioning African Americans for years to come. The objective of COINTELPRO was to weaken trust in any African leader or organization that advocated for actual solutions to Black oppression.

One significant flaw within the BPP was their combination of both above-ground and underground activities; they operated openly during daylight hours but engaged in armed operations at night. This allowed law enforcement agencies to conduct raids on BPP offices and members' residences under false pretenses, constantly putting them on the defensive. Nonetheless, despite these challenges, some dedicated members were able to keep the organization alive.

Despite being tainted by corruption, the BPP still made noteworthy contributions to their community and provided benefits. Their emphasis on self-defense set them apart from other Black organizations, which resonated with many members, particularly young members—emphasizing their impact

on the Black Lives Matter movement. The BPP recognized the government's historical use of police and military force against African liberation groups. Consequently, self-defense became a crucial aspect of their ideology.The organization's goal was to achieve national liberation for African people in the U.S., following socialist principles and advocating for a socialist revolution. They placed importance on mass organizing techniques, believing in "serving the people" by living among them, sharing their burdens, and empowering them to find solutions to everyday concerns. In Richmond, a small town grappling with increasing corruption, religion played a significant role in its residents' lives as they sought survival.

Dexter's parents were devout churchgoers due to their religious beliefs. Despite having common roots and rituals with black individuals, worship remained segregated between black and white communities despite similar moral values. Dexter's parents got married after World War II in the late 1940s. While her mother worked at Mill Blocks in Texas, her father hailed from a large family of 13 children in Southern Missouri where he dropped out of school to work in fields.

Dexter herself came from a lineage of slave owners dating back to the 1800s which instilled fear towards black people and nurtured a belief in her own superiority. However, before she was born, her parents moved west seeking better opportunities. Her mother became the first female butcher at Safe Way while her father found employment at a refinery. Through their hard work, they managed to purchase a modest shanty that had previously belonged to mill owners within the lower middle-class neighborhood.Around 1955, when Dexter turned four, the neighborhood began integrating with people of different races. The neighborhood was situated

near a railroad and the Country Jail. The exact position of the Black Panther Party (BPP) in the Black Liberation Movement will be determined over time. Despite some mistakes, the BPP achieved certain accomplishments and made contributions to the overall movement. One could argue that incorporating armed struggle into their approach was crucial for achieving true freedom.

In 1962, Dexter started attending a black high school where she faced discrimination and physical abuse due to her differences. While some black students supported her, others did not. During Junior High, Martin Luther King's assassination occurred and Malcolm X emerged as a leader advocating for black separation from mainstream society. Sadly, Malcolm X himself met his demise while delivering a speech in 1965.

At just 14 years old, Dexter played an influential role in shaping America's history and permanently changing lives. Throughout her teenage years, she actively participated in proud marches aimed at promoting racial equality.

My interview with Mrs. Dextra Christiansen—my American friend's mother—proved to be both fascinating and inspiring. It went beyond what can be found in history books and provided me with a deeper understanding of our past.This conversation has made me aware that history encompasses more than what is documented or portrayed on television. As a young historian, I understand that there are undisclosed truths waiting to be uncovered within ancient historical records. I am grateful for the opportunity to expand my knowledge of significant events in American history and to exchange remarkable experiences with Mrs. Christiansen. Bibliography: [Please include appropriate citation information.]

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