Was Martin Luther King Jr in the Black Panthers?

Answer 1

Martin Luther King was quite definitely not in the Black Panthers. The Black Panthers were formed in a time where the Black People of America had simply had enough. The Civil Rights Movement had been in swing for quite some time, often led by various associations (NAACP being one of the main organisations) and often by Martin Luther King. However this movement was peaceful. Martin Luther King Jr was a pacifist and was until the day he was assassinated.

The Black Panthers however, were well reputed for their militant style and tactics. They had no problems killing if it came to it, rioting, even believing in the right to bear arms they exercise this right in accordance to the Californian Laws at this time by keeping the weapons in open view, but not pointed at anyone. They even on numerous occasions chanted about using their arms to kill police officers.

This would have gone against every campaign ever run by MLK because he believed that it was only by using the American Judiciary System to advance the equality of Blacks that they could truly be accepted as Americans.