Bass and Beyond
The Black Power Movement

Reclaiming Black Pride

1966–1971

Discover how West Coast Black media outlets became key advocates for the Black Power Movement, using platforms like Black Power radio and public television to spread ideas of empowerment and self-defense. Learn how their bold programming helped shape a new era of activism and advocacy.

The Black Power Movement of the 1960s and 1970s was a defining period in the struggle for civil rights and racial equality in the United States. Beyond marches, speeches, and protests, the leaders of the movement wielded the media—radio, photography, and newspapers—as powerful tools to communicate their core tenets of Black empowerment, self-reliance, and self-defense. Understanding how the movement used these mediums sheds light on the strategic efforts made to challenge white supremacy, reframe the narrative of Black existence in America, and galvanize a generation into action.

Radio: The Voice of Black Empowerment

Radio was a critical platform for leaders of the Black Power Movement, serving as both a tool for mass communication and a medium for shaping cultural identity. While television often presented the sanitized, mainstream version of events, Black Power leaders took to radio to air their unfiltered voices, communicate their demands, and organize communities.

One of the most significant radio projects that aligned with the Black Power ethos was the rise of Black Power Radio stations. Stations like KDIA in Oakland became cultural centers where activists discussed the intersection of Black liberation, self-defense, and systemic change. Radio shows hosted by the likes of Huey P. Newton, Eldridge Cleaver, and others became weekly rituals for many Black listeners. These shows offered counter-narratives to the demonization of Black activists in the mainstream media, portraying them not as threats but as leaders advocating for dignity and survival.

In addition, DJs became crucial messengers of the Black Power Movement, many acting as intermediaries between the leadership and the community. DJ Eddie O’Jay of New York and Oakland’s DJ Jerry Boulding were more than just music hosts. They were political commentators who played revolutionary music while inserting commentary on Black self-determination, economic independence, and the need for self-defense against police brutality.

Radio allowed the movement to bypass traditional gatekeepers of information and speak directly to Black audiences. The rapid dissemination of news through radio waves kept the public informed about key events, such as police raids on Black Panther offices, legal defense funds for imprisoned leaders, and boycotts that affected Black communities. The immediacy and accessibility of radio made it one of the most democratic tools in the Black Power media arsenal.

July 22, 1968: Black Panthers march to a news conference in New York to protest at the trial of one of their members, Huey P Newton. (Photo by MPI/Getty Images)

Photography: The Visual Power of Resistance

Photography played an equally pivotal role in visually communicating the ideals of the Black Power Movement. Leaders like Huey Newton and Angela Davis understood the potency of imagery in a visual-centric media landscape. They and others within the movement intentionally used photography to construct a narrative of strength, resilience, and defiance in the face of oppression.

One of the most iconic photographs from this era is that of Huey Newton seated in a wicker chair, holding a rifle in one hand and a spear in the other. This image encapsulated the spirit of the Black Panther Party’s stance on self-defense and its critique of the American justice system’s failure to protect Black citizens from police violence. The image, widely circulated in Black newspapers and magazines, symbolized the movement’s willingness to defend its community and demand justice by any means necessary.

The Black Panthers were perhaps the most media-savvy faction of the Black Power Movement, with their co-founder, Bobby Seale, emphasizing that “media is one of the key elements to change.” They recognized that in a world dominated by visual media, controlling their image was crucial. To that end, they produced their own photographers to document rallies, marches, and community events. The striking black berets and leather jackets worn by members became a uniform of defiance, and the images of Panthers standing in disciplined ranks outside courthouses, schools, or police stations broadcast a clear message of solidarity and preparedness for self-defense.

Photography also played a key role in connecting the local struggle to a global audience. The visual documentation of police confrontations, such as the images from the Los Angeles Watts Rebellion or the brutalization of protesters during the Selma to Montgomery marches, depicted Black communities standing resiliently against state-sanctioned violence. These images challenged the dominant narrative of African Americans as passive victims, instead portraying them as active participants in their liberation.

Newspapers: Building a Black-Owned Information Ecosystem

In conjunction with radio and photography, newspapers provided the intellectual backbone of the Black Power Movement’s communication strategy. Black-owned newspapers were not new to the civil rights struggle—dating back to the 19th century with publications like The North Star and The Chicago Defender. However, during the Black Power era, newspapers took on a more radical tone, emphasizing not just civil rights but also self-determination, self-reliance, and economic autonomy for Black Americans.

The Black Panther newspaper, which was founded by the Black Panther Party, was perhaps the most prominent of these publications. It served as the official organ of the party, distributing its political philosophy to readers nationwide. The paper did more than report the news; it educated the masses on issues like police brutality, systemic racism, and global anti-imperialism. Weekly columns explained the need for self-defense, profiled community programs like free breakfasts for children, and broke down the Panthers’ 10-point program, which called for an end to police brutality, decent housing, and land for Black Americans.

Each edition of the Black Panther was accompanied by artwork from Emory Douglas, the party’s Minister of Culture. His bold, graphic style created images that were immediately recognizable and accessible to Black readers. The use of political cartoons and illustrations further galvanized support for the movement, transforming complex ideas into digestible messages. These visual depictions, such as Black men and women standing up to police, underscored the movement’s call for empowerment and resistance.

Meanwhile, other Black-owned newspapers, like The California Eagle, The Amsterdam News, and Muhammad Speaks, also served as crucial outlets for the communication of Black Power principles. These newspapers provided an alternative narrative to the mainstream media’s portrayal of Black activists as radicals and terrorists. Instead, they showcased the movement’s contributions to community building, cultural pride, and global liberation efforts, particularly the parallels drawn between the Black liberation struggle in America and the anti-colonial struggles of Africa and Latin America.

One of the Black Panther Party’s chief forms of communication included political posters like this one, which stated that co-founders Bobby Seale and Huey Newton were political prisoners.
Poster showing four women demonstrating for release of six members of the Black Panther Party from the Niantic State Women’s Farm in Connecticut.

The Intersection of Media: A Comprehensive Strategy

The integration of radio, photography, and newspapers was not an accidental alignment of media but rather a comprehensive strategy aimed at reclaiming Black identity and agency. The movement’s leaders were acutely aware of the power of representation and sought to shape how Black Americans were perceived, both within their communities and to the outside world.

This media synergy ensured that the Black Power message transcended physical spaces. Where radio used sound to inspire and mobilize, photography crystallized moments of courage and defiance, and newspapers articulated the intellectual arguments for Black liberation. Together, these forms of media allowed the Black Power Movement to communicate a complex vision of empowerment that encompassed practical resistance and cultural pride.

As the Black Power Movement grew, so did its influence on the global stage. Leaders like Stokely Carmichael, Angela Davis, and Malcolm X gained international followings, and the movement became a model for other liberation struggles worldwide.

Interview Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz

Step into the story of the Black Power Movement through an Interactive Interview with Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of Malcolm X. Explore her insights, family legacy, and the movement’s lasting impact.

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