November 26th 2023.
A recent push to commemorate the Illinois Black Panther Party has stirred up a debate on how to best honor their activist legacy. As reported by the Chicago Sun-Times on Nov. 24, the National Register of Historic Places is attempting to include the Illinois chapter’s history in their registry, but this has been met with pushback.
The inclusion would highlight some of the most crucial locations in the Chicago area that have a deep history with the Black Panther Party. Although the organization was founded in the 1960s, the Federal Bureau of Investigation maintained that the Black Panther Party was violent and gang-like. This even led to the FBI launching a counterintelligence program against the organization.
Supporters of the National Register of Historic Places inclusion believe that the listing will help preserve important historical components of the group. However, some are opposed and say it will continue to push an untruthful narrative about the activist group. Leila Wills, who is heading the inclusion project, collected letters of support from more than 20 former Black Panthers. Wanda Ross, a former member, wrote in her letter of support, “It is important to include the historical significance of the ongoing struggle of the Black Panther Party throughout the United States as a voice for parity and justice. The struggle of Black People to overcome racism is a reality that must be told, addressed, and ended before we can move forward as a nation.”
Fred Hampton Jr., chairman of the Black Panther Party Cubs and the son of former Black Panther leader Fred Hampton Sr., has a different view. He has formed a coalition to oppose the National Register inclusion move. He believes that the federal government’s misinformation about the party has already damaged its legacy and the National Register recognition will only continue this. “This is not their story to tell,” Hampton Jr. said. “We come from a community that prefers a demolished truth, as opposed to a structured lie.”
Despite this reluctance, a state advisory council approved the nomination effort in late October. Now, the National Park Service has until Dec. 26 to make the final call on whether to reject or accept the nomination. No matter the outcome of the decision, it is clear that the Illinois Black Panther Party will continue to be remembered for their activist legacy.
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