*All proceeds from The Black Panther Party collection will go to organizations that promote and support the liberation of Palestine, the advancement of black and disadvantage people, educational services for black and brown children in Los Angeles, CA and in Uganda, Africa .
Saint Mother Studios celebrates Black Future Month with an apparel collection directly inspired by The Black Panther Party of Self Defense. Founded in Oakland, CA in 1966 The Black Panther Party’s mission was clear about their anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist politics. The party’s direct radicalism and willingness to confront the police quickly made headlines across the nation, drawing attention to the United States Government’s active racial and economic oppression. The Black Panther Party sought to protect and defend the community from the oppressive, imperialist power structure that brutalized the black community, as police violence was on the rise. Their goal was to bring peace and put the power back into the hands of the people they served. Their ability to align with other anti-imperialist groups across racial lines gave the Black Panther Party the mobilization they required for a revolution.
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The Black Panther Party was for the advancement of the people. The United States government deprived marginalized communities of basic necessities such as public education, housing, and healthcare. The Black Panther Party fulfilled the needs of the community where the government failed. For example “The People’s Free Food Program” was designed to ensure children had meals to sustain themselves throughout the day in order to properly learn and focus during the school day. It was the party’s philosophy to invest resources and power back into the community. Every marginalized community deserved to have the quality of life that was standard to middle and upper class white citizens.
“The Black Panther Party Ten-Point Platform” laid out the beliefs and demands of the organization making their mission transparent to the people that formed the community. Decent housing, fair employment, higher education, the liberation of political prisoners, and an immediate end to police brutality were some of the listed demands. The iconic Ten-Point Program was not only direct but was iterated in a coded vernacular that was understood by the people that were under attack.
Saint Mother Studios incorporates the radical iconography from the 60’s Black Power movement on wearable apparel in this collection. Just like The Black Panthers, the message is expressive, meaningful and direct. This statement-making collection carries on the legacy of the Black Panther Party and the liberation of Black people and all oppressed people of the world.
