BLM - "Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution"

In this activity, students will view the PBS Independent Lens’ documentary “Black Panthers: Vanguard of a Revolution” (includes links to stream the film online). When students have successfully completed the assignment, they should have a solid understanding of the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of the Black Panther movement.

About the Film: “In the turbulent 1960s, change was coming to America and the fault lines could no longer be ignored — cities were burning, Vietnam was exploding, and disputes raged over equality and civil rights. A new revolutionary culture was emerging and it sought to drastically transform the system. The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense would, for a short time, put itself at the vanguard of that change.  The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution is the first feature-length documentary to explore the Black Panther Party, its significance to the broader American culture, its cultural and political awakening for black people, and the painful lessons wrought when a movement derails.” ~ The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution | Documentary about Black Panther Party | Independent Lens

The accompanying activity asks students to take focused notes in response to text-based questions. Students will be asked to prove their understanding of the most important topics/themes in the film. The text-based questions require students to support their answers with evidence from the film and to fully explain HOW their evidence supports their answers.

*Lesson/Activity can be completed in person or via remote learning.*