Nesting the Black Panther Party in the Zeitgeist of Uncertainty

A philosophy professor once asked me during my dissertation phase, “What are you researching?” “The Black Panther Party in Philadelphia,” I replied. He smirked and replied, “Aahh, resurrecting the unresurrectable, huh?” I stood frozen—removed of tongue and movement—and at a point allowed my insecurities to seep in, as I pondered my future as a scholar-activist. As I looked at this professor, I asked myself, What exactly did he mean? Was I attempting to crawl up a downward spiral? Would I be jeopardizing my academic career by pursing this particular subject matter? These questions, of course, were the manifestation of fear. My fear, however, would never compare to that experienced by many of the warriors who sacrificed their lives so that I may have the opportunity to study the subject of my choosing. After months of reflection, I made the decision to “resurrect the unresurrectable.” During that time, I was able to expand the parameters of my consciousness in order to fully appreciate the complexity, significance, struggles, and beauty of the Black Panther Party (BPP), one of the most maligned yet celebrated organizations of the twentieth century