Black Panthers
Definition
Plural form of 'black panther,' referring to melanistic variants of leopards (Panthera pardus) or jaguars (Panthera onca) that appear entirely black due to a genetic mutation causing excess melanin production.
Informal reference to members or the legacy of the Black Panther Party, a U.S.-based revolutionary socialist organization founded in 1966 by Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton, focused on Black self-defense, community programs, and anti-oppression activism.
In pop culture, the elite warriors or characters associated with the Marvel Comics superhero Black Panther, particularly the Dora Milaje or Wakandan forces depicted in films like 'Black Panther' (2018).
Examples
The black panthers slinked through the underbrush, turning a simple hike into a heart-pounding game of 'spot the shadow.'
Back in the '60s, the Black Panthers whipped up free breakfasts for kids, proving revolutionaries could also master the art of the perfect pancake stack.
In the Wakandan battle scenes, the black panthers moved like they had vibranium sneakers, leaving villains wondering what hit them.
His tattoo of black panthers was meant to look fierce, but from afar, it resembled a pair of goth house cats plotting world domination.