Black Panther Free Breakfast Program

June 30, 1969 - c. 1971?

In 1969, the Black Panther Party opened a Free Breakfast for School Children Program at 866 Sutter Avenue, providing nutritious meals to local children who often went to school hungry. This site was one of the many Black Panther breakfast programs across the country. The Black Panther Party's breakfast program was part of the broader mission to fight against systemic racism and oppression. At their breakfast sites, there was a variety of activities such as cooking, singing and chanting, reading the Black Panther newspaper, and political talk. Panther members also offered transportation to school after eating, making it easier for children to attend classes and pursue their education. This free breakfast site in East New York was only a 30-minute walk down Sutter Avenue from one of the largest New York City Black Panther breakfast programs located in Brownsville. The Brooklyn Black Panther free breakfast programs alone fed between 300 to 400 children a week. Today, the building is home to the Messiah Baptist Church.

Photo captures children eating breakfast at a New York City Black Panther Party Free Breakfast for Children program in 1971.
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Details

Category
Organization/Association
Audience
Children
Founder(s)
The Black Panther Party
Tags
Blackculture, breakfast, blackpantherparty

Location

  • 866 Sutter Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11207, USA
    ? - ?

References

  1. University of Washington. "Black Panther Party Research Project - Interactive Map." Mapping American Social Movements. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://depts.washington.edu/moves/BPP_map-cities.shtml.
  2. “Brownsville Breakfast .” It’s About Time: Black Panther Party Legacy and Alumni. Accessed 2023, digital archive. http://www.itsabouttimebpp.com/Chapter_History/pdf/New_York/NY_Chapter_History_5.pdf
  3. "Huey P. Newton Addresses the Revolutionary Youth Conference." Black Panther, v. 3 no. 14. July 26, 1969, 20. Accessed April 10, 2023. https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/black-panther/03n14-jul%2026%201969.pdf.
  4. Caldwell, Earl. "Black Panthers Serving Youngsters a Diet of Food and Politics." New York Times, June 15, 1969, ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times with Index, 57.