The Black Panthers, originally called "The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense," was an organization formed Oct. 15, 1966 as a protection group for African Americans. Just two short years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, African Americans were still experiencing extreme, unmerited police brutality, socioeconomic disparity and all-around government oppression; the Panthers organized as a means to combat this.

1. Pro-black doesn't mean anti-white.

Originally, the party was pro-black, not anti-white, meaning they were only seeking to protect and provide for African Americans in the way the American government had neglected to at the time.

2. Born in Oakland, California | Parents Huey P. Newton & Bobby Seale

The Black Panthers were birthed in Oakland, California, by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale, both of who were college educated men. Newton earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate all from University of California, Santa Cruz. While Seale did not complete his degree, he did attend Merritt College for a few years. During this time period, he met Newton through an organization called the Afro-American Association (AAA).

3. The Panthers weren't about oppressing anyone.

Although the Black Panthers were an organization for black Americans, they also stood with other oppressed minorities and (many times) vice versa.

4. The Black Panther Party remains the largest revolutionary African-American organization ever created.

5. The Black Panthers' focus areas included: Equality in education, housing, employment and civil rights. They even had a written platform to elaborate on their stance.

6. The Black Panthers were heavily influenced by the teachings of Malcolm X, who was assassinated in 1965, one year prior the official formation of the Black Panthers.

7. The Black Panthers were against capitalism. They believed strongly in the value of socialism.

8. It is estimated that the Black Panthers created around 65 community programs from 1966-1982.

Including, but not limited to: WIC (Women Infants, and Children), Free Breakfast for Children Programs (first of its kind in the nation!), Free Ambulance Program, Free Dental Program, Free Health Clinics, Nutrition Classes, UC Berkeley Students Health Program, Sickle Cell Anemia Research Foundation and police patrols to monitor police brutality.

9. The Mulford Act of 1967

Signed by President Ronald Reagan, this bill repealed the right to “open carry” loaded firearms, as a response to the Black Panthers’ neighborhood patrol programs. President Reagan stated that the law “would work no hardship on the honest citizen.” The Black Panthers responded by protesting their rights to the Second Amendment.

10. The Black Panthers had many famous members.

Afeni Shakur, a former-Black Panther, mothered of one of the greatest music legends of the 1990s, Tupac Shakur. Chaka Khan was also a Black Panther. She joined at 16 years old and sold the organization's newspaper. She also played a part in starting the free breakfast programs for children.

11. It spawned the creation of government organizations targeting political organizations.

COINTELPRO, or Counter Intelligence Program, was a government organization under the direction of FBI director, J. Edgar Hoover, and was used to undermine and destroy political organizations, the Black Panthers being on the list among feminist organizations, anti-Vietnam protesters and many others.

12. Anti-draft

The Black Panthers did not believe black males should have to enlist in the United States military draft.The Black Panther as an animal is seen as symbolic of strength, speed, endurance, commanding presence and awareness.

13. The logo for the Black Panthers came from the Lowndes County Freedom Organization (LCFO), who some credit as being the unofficial Black Panthers before its founding in 1966.

14. The Black Panthers strongly supported women’s equality. In fact, the majority of its membership belonged to women in the 1970's.

15. Some groups mistakenly associated with the Black Panther Party are: The New Black Panther Party and the New Afrikan Black Panther Party.