"The FBI Sets Goals for COINTELPRO · SHEC_ Resources for Teachers"

Overview of COINTELPRO

  • COINTELPRO (Counterintelligence Program) was initiated by the FBI under Director J. Edgar Hoover.
  • Its primary aim was to investigate and disrupt dissident political groups within the United States, particularly during the 1960s.

Target Groups

  • The program often targeted civil rights activists, including:
    • Martin Luther King Jr.: Advocated for nonviolent protest.
    • Black Panther Party: Labelled by Hoover as a "black nationalist hate group."
  • The FBI employed various tactics against these groups including:
    • Infiltration
    • Legal harassment
    • Dissemination of disinformation
    • Extra-legal intimidation and violence

Goals of COINTELPRO

  • The FBI established long-range goals to maximize the effectiveness of COINTELPRO to prevent what they perceived as threats from militant black nationalist movements:
1. Preventing Coalition Formation
  • Objective: Prevent the coalitions among militant black nationalist groups as unity could empower their movement significantly.
  • Rationale: A united front could potentially lead to a serious revolutionary phase akin to the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya.
2. Preventing the Rise of a "Messiah"
  • Objective: Deter the emergence of a unifying leader within the militant black nationalist movement.
  • Potential Threats:
    • Malcolm X: Seen as a potential martyr and influential figure.
    • Martin Luther King Jr.: Could become a more significant threat if he shifted from nonviolence to embracing black nationalism.
    • Stokely Carmichael: His charisma positions him as a significant potential leader.
    • Elijah Muhammad: Considered less of a threat due to his age.
3. Preventing Violence
  • Objective: Stop black nationalist groups from engaging in violence.
  • Tactics: Target potential instigators proactively to mitigate the risk of disruptive actions.
4. Discrediting Black Nationalists
  • Objective: Tactically discredit militant black nationalist groups and leaders across various community segments:
    • To the Responsible Negro Community: Undermining legitimate standing within black communities.
    • To the White Community: Destabilizing any sympathy from the liberal demographic.
    • To Negro Radicals: Employing different tactics as violent publicity may inadvertently boost their standing among radicals.
5. Preventing Growth among Youth
  • Objective: Halt the recruitment of young people into militant black organizations.
  • Tactics: Develop specific strategies to minimize the appeal of these groups to youth.

Source Information

  • Original Document: J. Edgar Hoover, "The FBI Sets Goals for COINTELPRO"
  • Reference: Deborah Menkart, Alana D. Murray, Jenice L. View, eds., Putting the Movement Back into Civil Rights Teaching (2004).
  • Accessed on May 29, 2023 from SHEC: Resources for Teachers: https://shec.ashp.cuny.edu/items/show/814
  • Copyright: American Social History Productions, Inc. (2023)