1. What is the overarching goal of COINTELPRO under J. Edgar Hoover’s leadership? 2. Why does the FBI view Black Power as a threat? Cite evidence. 3. To what extent can the FBI be considered a terrorist organization to the Black Panther Movement? Explain.
1. What is the overarching goal of COINTELPRO under J. Edgar Hoover’s leadership? 2. Why does the FBI view Black Power as a threat? Cite evidence. 3. To what extent can the FBI be considered a terrorist organization to the Black Panther Movement? Explain.
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1. What is the overarching goal of COINTELPRO under J. Edgar Hoover’s leadership?
2. Why does the FBI view Black Power as a threat? Cite evidence.
3. To what extent can the FBI be considered a terrorist organization to the Black Panther Movement? Explain.
![Source 2: Under Director J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI's COINTELPRO (Counterintelligence Program) was aimed at
investigating and disrupting dissident political groups within the United States. In the 1960's, COINTELPRO's targets
frequently included civil rights activists, both those who espoused non-violence, like Martin Luther King, and those that
Hoover referred to as "black nationalist hate groups," like the Black Panthers. This document outlines the program's
goals in attempting to limit the effectiveness of such groups.
Goals of COINTELPRO:
1. Prevent the COALITION of militant black nationalist groups. In unity there is strength; a [truth] that is [not
surprising]. An effective coalition of black nationalist groups might be the first step toward a real "Mau Mau"
[Black revolutionary army] in America, the beginning of a true black revolution.
2. Prevent the RISE OF A "MESSIAH" who could unify, and electrify, the militant black nationalist movement.
Malcolm X might have been such a "messiah;" he is the martyr [killed for his beliefs]. Martin Luther King,
Stokely Carmichael and Elijah Muhammed all aspire to this position. Elijah Muhammed is less of a threat
because of his age. King could be a very real contender for this position should he abandon his supposed
"obedience" to "white, liberal doctrines" (nonviolence) and embrace black nationalism. Carmichael has the
necessary charisma to be a real threat in this way.
3. Prevent VIOLENCE on the part of black nationalist groups. This is of primary importance, and is, of course, a
goal of our investigative activity; it should also be a goal of the Counterintelligence Program to pinpoint potential
troublemakers and neutralize them before they exercise their potential for violence.
4. Prevent militant black nationalist groups and leaders from gaining RESPECTABILITY, by discrediting them to
three separate segments of the community. The goal of discrediting black nationalists must be handled tactically
in three ways. You must discredit those groups and individuals to, first,
the responsible Negro community. Second, they must be discredited to
the white community... Third, these groups must be discredited in the
eyes of Negro radicals, the followers of the movement. This last area
requires entirely different tactics from the first two. Publicity about
violent tendencies and radical statements merely enhances black
nationalists to the last group; it adds "respectability" in a different way.
5. A final goal should be to prevent the long-range GROWTH of
militant black organizations, especially among youth. Specific tactics to
prevent these groups from converting young people must be developed.
FBI
MOTTO: SPY ON CITIZENS DAILY
COINTELPRO
THE FBI's former Spy Program targeting
citizens of the USA
THE PATRIOT ACT ALLOWS FBI TO START ILLEGAL SPYING AGAIN
WHICH WAS CUTLAINED FOLLOWING THE CHURCH COMMITTEE REPORT](/v2/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.bartleby.com%2Fqna-images%2Fquestion%2F7c6a3dff-6729-485c-933e-bf615eefedb6%2Fc0264f9f-026e-40be-bb12-420620379221%2Fv746mo_processed.jpeg&w=3840&q=75)
Transcribed Image Text:Source 2: Under Director J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI's COINTELPRO (Counterintelligence Program) was aimed at
investigating and disrupting dissident political groups within the United States. In the 1960's, COINTELPRO's targets
frequently included civil rights activists, both those who espoused non-violence, like Martin Luther King, and those that
Hoover referred to as "black nationalist hate groups," like the Black Panthers. This document outlines the program's
goals in attempting to limit the effectiveness of such groups.
Goals of COINTELPRO:
1. Prevent the COALITION of militant black nationalist groups. In unity there is strength; a [truth] that is [not
surprising]. An effective coalition of black nationalist groups might be the first step toward a real "Mau Mau"
[Black revolutionary army] in America, the beginning of a true black revolution.
2. Prevent the RISE OF A "MESSIAH" who could unify, and electrify, the militant black nationalist movement.
Malcolm X might have been such a "messiah;" he is the martyr [killed for his beliefs]. Martin Luther King,
Stokely Carmichael and Elijah Muhammed all aspire to this position. Elijah Muhammed is less of a threat
because of his age. King could be a very real contender for this position should he abandon his supposed
"obedience" to "white, liberal doctrines" (nonviolence) and embrace black nationalism. Carmichael has the
necessary charisma to be a real threat in this way.
3. Prevent VIOLENCE on the part of black nationalist groups. This is of primary importance, and is, of course, a
goal of our investigative activity; it should also be a goal of the Counterintelligence Program to pinpoint potential
troublemakers and neutralize them before they exercise their potential for violence.
4. Prevent militant black nationalist groups and leaders from gaining RESPECTABILITY, by discrediting them to
three separate segments of the community. The goal of discrediting black nationalists must be handled tactically
in three ways. You must discredit those groups and individuals to, first,
the responsible Negro community. Second, they must be discredited to
the white community... Third, these groups must be discredited in the
eyes of Negro radicals, the followers of the movement. This last area
requires entirely different tactics from the first two. Publicity about
violent tendencies and radical statements merely enhances black
nationalists to the last group; it adds "respectability" in a different way.
5. A final goal should be to prevent the long-range GROWTH of
militant black organizations, especially among youth. Specific tactics to
prevent these groups from converting young people must be developed.
FBI
MOTTO: SPY ON CITIZENS DAILY
COINTELPRO
THE FBI's former Spy Program targeting
citizens of the USA
THE PATRIOT ACT ALLOWS FBI TO START ILLEGAL SPYING AGAIN
WHICH WAS CUTLAINED FOLLOWING THE CHURCH COMMITTEE REPORT
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