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Preferred Citation

"Revolutionary People's Constitutional Convention - Resolutions and Declarations" by the Black Panther Party, C0435, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Purchased from James Arsenault & Company in August 2018.

Processing Information

Processing completed by Meghan Glasbrenner in June 2024. Finding aid completed by Meghan Glasbrenner in July 2024.

Historical Information

The Black Panther Party (BPP) was established in Oakland, California in 1966 by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale. Originally named the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, the organization's original primary focus was on combatting police brutality, but evolved into a Marxist revolutionary group that championed a larger number of causes for African Americans, including political and economic equality, and establishing social programs for communities such as free breakfasts for children. Membership in the organization peaked in the late 1960s, with chapters in several major American cities and over 2,000 members. By the late 1970s internal conflicts and external pressures led to a decline in BPP memberships and influence, with the organization formally dissolving in 1982.

The Revolutionary People's Constitutional Convention (RPCC) was a conference organized by the BPP during the organization's peak influence with the goal of drafting a new U.S. Constitution and unifying disparate factions of the New Left revolutionary groups, such as the Black Power Movement, Asian American Movement, Chicano Movement, American Indian Movement, Anti-war movement, Women's Liberation movement, and Gay Liberation movement. It is estimated that between 5,000-15,000 members of these groups attended a plenary session of the RPCC in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from September 4-7, 1970. Attendees worked together to draft "Resolutions and Declarations" with the intention of reconvening in Washington, D.C. in two months, from November 27-29, to adopt a common platform and ratify the new Constitution. However, the D.C. convention was plagued with difficulties, including local authorities refusing to grant permits to the group and financial barriers from intended venue locations, such as Howard University. Ultimately, the convention did not occur as intended, with only a rock concert being held on November 27 in Meridian Hill Park and some informal gatherings and speeches occurring in churches over the remaining days. No future plans for finalizing the new Constitution or formalizing the New Left common platform ever materialized.

Scope and Content

Printed document written by the Black Panther Party titled "Revolutionary Peopleat the planned November 1970 Revolutionary People's Constitutional Convention (RPCC) in Washington, D.C. The document consists of a title page (letter-sized paper), two typed pages of content (legal-sized paper, one double-sided), and a photocopied double-sided map of the streets of Washington, D.C., with intended sites for the RPCC listed and marked on one side. The document outlines the need for "oppressed communinities" to unite in their shared views to fight against "bureaucratic capitalism" and formulate a new U.S. Constitution.

Arrangement

This is a single folder collection.

Related Material

The Special Collections Research Center also holds the Philip Levy civil rights collection .

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• African Americans
• African Americans -- Civil rights -- History -- 20th century
• Black power -- United States
• New Left -- United States
• Washington (D.C.)