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Black Panther Party 10-Point Platform and Program features twelve iconic photographs of the Black Panthers by photographer Stephen Shames, in collaboration with the Black Panther Party co-Founder Bobby Seale.

Admired, reviled, emulated, misunderstood, the Black Panther Party was one of the most creative and influential responses to racism and economic inequality in American history. They advocated armed self-defense to counter police brutality and initiated a program of patrolling the police with shotguns – and law books. The Panthers also initiated more than 50 community survival programs, including the Free Breakfast for School Children, Free Medical Clinics, Free Food, Clothing, and Legal Aid programs, sickle cell screening, an award-winning charter school, and SAFE – a senior citizen program to help prevent muggings and attacks upon the elderly, particularly when they go out to cash their Social Security or pension checks.

The exhibition highlights the historic 10-Points coauthored by the founders Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton in 1966 that were the cornerstone of the Party’s mission. Bobby Seale came to Stephen Shames’ studio in Brooklyn in April, 2019 and wrote by hand the headline of one of the 10-Points on each print. Then Seale and Shames signed them together. The 10-Point Portfolio was exhibited at Fair Photo Doc. and the Photo Doc. Gallery.

Untitled images – crédits photo Stephen Shames & Bobby Seale – Courtesy Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Foundation