Who were the Black Panthers?

The Black Panthers were primarily known as a revolutionary socialist organization that advocated for African American rights and self-defense. Formed in 1966, the Black Panther Party aimed to address systemic injustices faced by African Americans, including police brutality and economic inequality. They promoted a platform that included demands for housing, education, and an end to police violence, while also emphasizing the importance of armed self-defense against oppression.

This answer is reinforced by the Panthers' engagement in community programs, such as free breakfast for children and health clinics, which highlighted their commitment not only to justice but also to addressing socioeconomic disparities. Their militant approach referred to both their readiness to defend their communities by means of armed self-defense and the revolutionary ideologies they adopted from figures like Malcolm X and Karl Marx.

The nature of their activism set them apart from other organizations focused solely on nonviolent approaches or charity, making it clear why option B correctly encapsulates their identity and mission within the context of civil rights and activism during the 1960s and 1970s.