Fanning the Flames of Racial Discord: The National Press and the Black Panther Party

The Black Panther Party and the news media engaged in a dialogic relationship that shaped public representations of black nationalism and black radicalism. During the first two years of the group's existence, the national elite press paid limited attention to the group. When they did cover the controversies surrounding the Panthers, the stories fit into narrow frames that underscored national ideologies about race and social protest. The coverage of the Black Panthers registered mainstream America's fears and disdain for their politics and style. Over time, these frames shifted to include a desire to elevate these radicals to celebrity status. This racially coded news reporting illustrates the problems of the 1960s' press in covering the complexities of America's racial crisis.