Young Patriots Organization

The Young Patriots Organization was an American left-wing organization of the 1960s and 1970s. Growing out of an SDS project called JOIN (Jobs Or Income Now), its first leader was Doug "Youngblood" Blakey, the son of Peggy Terry. It was later led by Jack "Junebug" Boykin, and then, William "Preacherman" Fesperman. Originating in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago, the organization was designed to support young, white migrants from the Appalachia region.^[1] However with Fred Hampton of the Black Panther Party and José "Cha-Cha" Jiménez of the Young Lords Organization the three organizations formed the Rainbow Coalition (unrelated to Jesse Jackson's later Rainbow/PUSH Coalition). The group's early interactions with the Black Panthers are shown in the 1969 documentary American Revolution 2.

The Young Patriots wore a rebel confederate flag on their blue jean jackets and berets, and fought against racism. They participated in demonstrations against police brutality and housing discrimination. In 1971, a portion of the Young Patriots attempted to build a national organization, renamed the Patriot Party, no relation to the right-wing group of the same name.

See also

• Southern Student Organizing Committee

Citations

References

Books:

• Philip S. Foner, ed. The Black Panthers Speak pp. 239–244
• Theorharis and Woodard, eds. Freedom North: Black Freedom Struggles Outside the Southpp. 54–56
• Jeffrey O.G. Ogbar Black Power: Radical Politics and African American Identitypp. 178–180
• Amy Sonnie and James Tracy "Hillbilly Nationalists, Urban Race Rebels and Black Power: Community Organizing in Radical Times."

Articles:

• James Tracy The Original Rainbow Coalition: An Interview With Bobby Lee AREA Chicago, September/October 2006

Film:

• American Revolution 2, 1969, director: Michael Grey.