Eyes on the Prize: Insights

I haven't seen any comments on EOTP: Nation of law? So i thought I'd post some of my own thoughts. This documentary reflects and portrays specific moments in this turbulent time, but was really a great insight into a time when fear, from whites and blacks, was so prominent. It seemed to be a fear of the unknown. Starting from the first part of EOTP, it should be stated that the Black Panther Party is an intresting and controversial organization. You have, on one hand, some stereotypes (weather true or not) that the group is radical. The President even labels them as a great threat to the internal security. They are political in nature, and admitantly so. EOTP, however, sheds some fantastic light on the realities of the party at that time, and some of the people associated with it. The members, Fred Hampton being at the top, were all quite level headed individuals who trully demanded, and rightfully so, a fair, just, and equal society. This equality should have no color. "White power to White people, Black power to Black people, Yellow power to Yellow people." The government wasn't ready for this type of radical change, and truthfully didn't know how to react. Likewise, you end up with an unsubstatiated and illthought raid of the Black Panther Office, and the execution of Fred Hampton. What a shame that was for the government and the people. Breaking out of the norm, in every single civilzation/society, has proved to be a very long and costly process. This was no different. It took many kinds of heroic actions by the members of the 'radical' Panther group to have their voice heard amongst the people, both Black and White.
What a shame so many things have to rely on violence to change. Yet another example the film raises is the takeover of the prison and hostages by the 1200 inmates. Here you have men who must be heard by the community, and the only way that could be achieved is taking hostile action. They wanted better living conditions in the prison and wanted to be treated like humans rather than dogs. You could tell how afraid they were to cross this line, but knew that it was necessary. Likewise, you could tell how afraid the government was about the entire situation. They did the only thing they knew, and that was go in with guns and show force. Every inmate was stripped and beaten, and tens of people, including the hostages, where shot by police. In surely made people look at the present state of affairs, and question whether or not this nation is a nation of law.