How Poets in the Black Arts Movement Echo the Black Panther Party's 10-Point Vision
The Black Panther Party and the Black Arts Movement were somewhat aligned during the Black liberation movement but have several different values and ideals than the other. In the Black Panther Party, they excluded women from being involved or even providing input for important legislations like the “10-Point Program.” In the Black Arts Movement, women expressed their ignorance and stood up for black women’s rights in more ways than one. The Black Panthers state that self-determination and the proper education of black identity and history is integral to their values. This part in their program reminded me a lot of Sonia Sanchez’ “i am a blk/wooOOOOMAN” and specifically where she redefines royalty through blackness: “for i will be called QUEEN & walk/move in blk/queenly/ways. and the world shaken by my blkness will channnnNNGGGEEE colors. and be reborn blk. again.” This part in her poem stood out to me not only because of its unique characterization of black women specifically,...