In observance of Black History Month, we encourage you to learn about the healthcare legacy of the Black Panther Party.
The organization's health services had major influence on US healthcare. The movement prioritized community-centered models of care, integrated social determinants of health, launched one of the defining public health initiatives of the 1970s, and brought acupuncture to the American mainstream. Despite this reality, to this day the Black Panther Party is depicted as a violent, angry and criminal organization. This video outlines the successes of the healthcare programs pioneered by the Black Panther Party and why these parts of the organization's legacy remain hidden.