Black and white poster of Huey Newton and Bobby Seale

In this iconic poster, Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale, co-founders of the Black Panther Party, stand dressed in the BPP uniform outside the Party’s original headquarters in North Oakland, California. The image not only embodies the Party’s deep historical ties to its birthplace but also highlights its strategic use of visual iconography through fashion. Unlike Civil Rights activists who wore their "Sunday Best" as a gesture of respectability politics, the Panthers donned berets, leather jackets, and even rifles with ammo belts strapped across their chests. This uniform signaled the Party’s militant stance and its demand for Black self-determination in the face of systemic oppression. It was also deliberately unisex, reflecting the essential role women played in the Party, even as they faced persistent sexism.

Beneath the image, a quotation from Newton reads: “The racist dog policeman must withdraw immediately from our communities, cease their wonton murder and brutality and torture of black people, or face the wrath of the armed people.” Like the Party’s uniform, this message serves as a warning: police violence would be met with armed self-defense. The quote appeared on various BPP propaganda posters, reinforcing the Panther’s uncompromising stance on community protection.

A framed black and white poster of Huey Newton and Bobby Seale in front of the storefront headquarters of the Black Panther Party in Oakland, California. Both men are wearing berets and leather jackets and are armed with assault rifles. Below the image is this quote from Newton: [The racist dog policemen must withdraw immediately from our communities, cease their wanton murder and brutality and torture of black people, or face the wrath of the armed people].