NPR: Did Man Who Armed Black Panthers Lead Two Lives?
In the mid-1960s, the Black Panthers came to symbolize black militant power. They rejected the nonviolence of earlier civil rights campaigners and promoted a radical socialist agenda.
Styled in uniforms of black leather jackets, dark sunglasses and black berets, the Panthers were never shy about brandishing guns, a sign that they were ready for a fight.
The images and message terrified J. Edgar Hoover, then the director of the FBI, who called the group "the greatest threat to the internal security of the country." Hoover launched a covert campaign to undermine the Panthers.
Since the release of more FBI records from the time, a new question has come to the fore: Did the man who armed the Panthers work for the FBI?
By: Richard Gonzalez
Story Date: 2012-10-03T00:00:00