HI6006 - The Black Panther Party

What will I learn on this module?

The module examines the history and significance of the Black Panther Party (BPP), a radical protest group formed in Oakland, California in 1966. It locates the BPP within its intellectual, political, geographical, and social context, giving students the opportunity to engage with important texts that influenced the BPP while also considering the BPP’s contribution to ideas about political struggle. The module details the history of the BPP from formation until its decline into irrelevance in the late 1970s, spending considerable time focusing on key individuals such as Huey P. Newton and Eldridge Cleaver, the FBI repression which resulted in the deaths of numerous BPP members, gender relations in the Party, and the BPP’s political and intellectual development. Students may start the module thinking that the BPP simply represented a violent response to African American oppression dominated by guns, leather jackets and Afro haircuts but they will end the module with a nuanced understanding of the profound contribution of the BPP to American history.

How will I learn on this module?

Student-led, structured seminars will enable students to develop their expertise in accessing and evaluating a range of sources, both primary and secondary, related to the BPP. The most complex seminars will be tutor-led, in order to aid students in familiarizing themselves with key texts and ideas. Other seminars will be led by student presentations before segueing into structured debates. Students will be expected to prepare for the weekly seminars by undertaking essential and recommended reading, and will build on independent reading by presenting ideas and arguments in seminar discussions and presentations. Guidance for learning materials, tasks and readings will be posted on the eLearning Portal (Blackboard) to enable participation within the seminar programme. Students are, obviously, responsible for their own guided and independent learning. Summative assessment matches individual student learning against the learning outcomes for the module.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

Your academic development will be supported through engagement with your peers, academic tutors, and programme leaders. Academic support is provided through group seminars and individual tutorials which allow specific issues to be addressed and to promote progress in academic development. The module tutor will be accessible within publicised Feedback and Consultation hours and via email. Your peers will provide you will a collaborative learning environment, and your programme leader will guide you through the requirements and expectations of your course. You will also be supported through individual engagement with the academic literature, lectures, and resources available on the eLearning Portal. A Writing Retreat will give you the opportunity to spend focused, quiet time writing one of your assignments.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Exhibit a deep, contextualised understanding of the history of the Black Panther Party.
2. Demonstrate expert awareness of the problematic nature of BPP history and historiography.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. Show critical engagement with historical theories and methodologies to analyse BPP history.
4. Demonstrate an ability to communicate informed opinions on the BPP in order to challenge pre-existing historical claims and arguments.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Demonstrate a deep awareness of the relationship between class, race, and oppression and resistance in society.

How will I be assessed?

Your knowledge and understanding, ability to analyse and engage critically with historiography, primary sources, and key themes in BPP history will be tested via the following assessments:
1) 1,000-word primary source evaluation from a list of approved sources.
MLO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
2) 1,500-word evaluation of a selected individual’s contribution to the BPP or BPP history (a list will be provided via Blackboard). MLO: 1, 2, 4
3) 3,500 research essay, chosen from a list of suitable essay topics set by the tutor. MLO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

You will have the opportunity to present your work in the seminars and will receive formative feedback from your lecturer in seminar discussions, debates, and tutorials. You will also receive feedback through interaction with your peers in seminar discussions. Feedback on your first summative assessment will allow you to improve on later ones.

Pre-requisite(s)

None

Co-requisite(s)

None

Module abstract

Please find details of this module in the other sections provided.

Course info

UCAS Code V100

Credits 20

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study 3 years Full Time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad

Department Humanities

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

History BA (Hons)

All information is accurate at the time of sharing.

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All information is accurate at the time of sharing.

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

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