Stalinism and the Black Panther Party

This article argues that the Black Panther Party incorporated Stalinist political elements. For one thing, the Party endorsed Stalinist ideology. This went beyond upholding Joseph Stalin’s legacy and supporting his interpretation of Marxism-Leninism. The Party denounced the ‘revisionism’ of Soviet de-Stalinization, while incorporating anti-revisionist principles from Maoism and Kimilsungism. Stalinist ideology also underlined the Party’s development of four core Stalinist organizational features. First, Huey Newton became a supreme leader with absolute power. Second, the Party developed a monolithic ideological system based on Newton’s ideology. Third, the Party developed a ‘cult of personality’ around Newton. Fourth, the Party conducted ‘purges’ of its membership. This is not to suggest that the Party was exclusively or even primarily Stalinist. The Panthers incorporated Stalinist political elements selectively and unevenly over time, alongside non-Stalinist elements. Nevertheless, Stalinism provides an insightful lens for understanding the Party’s political development.