27 August 2021
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1. Introduction
Anna Mae Pictu, a young mother arrested with weapons charges, was threatened by the FBI that she would be seen dead within a year unless she cooperated as an informant against the American Indian Movement. “Six months later her body was found on the Reservation. The FBI said she died of exposure. They cut off her hands, claiming this was necessary to identify her, and buried her under the name of Jane Doe. A second, independent autopsy revealed that someone had placed a pistol to the back of her head and pulled the trigger. When I asked for her hands after the second autopsy, because she was originally not buried with her hands, an FBI agent handed me a box, and with a big smile on his face he said, “You want her hands? Here.” (Day 293)
Destruction of individuals and organizations that are considered politically objectionable by the FBI are stemmed in black propaganda called COINTELPRO, which were FBI Counterintelligence Programs. With tactics like “official lying and media misinformation, systematically levying false charges against those targeted, manufacturing evidence to obtain their convictions, withholding evidence which might exonerate them, and occasionally assassinating key leaders” (Bazian 169) the FBI disrupted left-leaning Black Nationalist groups, held political prisoners, discredited individuals and organizations through character assignations, and invaded minority groups on a mass scale. To better understand how COINTELPRO is relevant to propaganda and social control, it is important to first explore the definitions of propaganda, black propaganda, and social control. Propaganda “is a form of communication that attempts to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist.” (Jowett 1) Black Propaganda “is when the source is concealed or credited to a false authority and spreads lies, fabrications, and deceptions.” (Jowett 18) Social control refers to “processes occurring in this society, in which social control systems are a function of the organization of these social systems and determine the relationship between the system and the environment. (Swieboda 1059)
This research essay will provide a literature overview of the theoretical framework of COINTELPRO and then conduct an analysis of the purpose and strategies executed in the propaganda. In the literature overview, I will review case studies that cover the organizational secrecy, political prisoners, character assassins, Indigenous people, the Black Panther Party, Muslims, and the ““guilty until proven innocent” reality. Next, I will analyze COINTELPRO propaganda in terms of ideology and purpose, context, identification of the protagonist, the structure of the propaganda organization, the target audience, media utilization techniques, and special techniques to maximize effect. Finally, I will conclude by summarizing my analysis and how it is relevant to propaganda and social control, and suggest future areas of research.
2. Literature Overview
Organizational Secrecy
The FBI had a complex strategy to ensure communications maintained anonymity, such as content management, materials used for print messages, and distribution procedures. To target individuals and organizations, they kept data files that consisted of news articles about those organizations. They implemented an array of strategies and techniques to keep the existence of the programs not only concealed from both their targets and the public, but impossible to trace back to the FBI. FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover’s decision to approve or deny requests depended on whether the actions could be conducted covertly. The strategies he approved involved the creation and distribution of anonymous telephone and print messages. For example, an anonymous call would be made to the pastor of the church thereby eliminating the necessity of involving a ghetto informant in counterintelligence matters.” (Hoerl 600) Phone calls, leaflets, letters, and newspaper columns were sent to participants of targeted activists and organizations. For example, a proposed leaflet from St. Louis that was approved by Hoover included the statement, “Unless we act now to contain these Apostles of Anarchy and Disciples of Destruction, our American White Christian Civilization is headed for certain doom.” (Hoerl 601) Message patterns like this provide insight into how the FBI kept the source of COINTELPRO communications a secret.
Political Prisoners
While the FBI boasted the mission of violence prevention, many of their tactics were intended to foster violence through false imprisonment. “Neutralization” was a common term found in FBI documents. This was considered a military and war term – to make incapable of action. The war was against people who were trying to advocate for basic human rights and justice. “The FBI organized a vast network of political spies who infiltrated thousands of organizations, and trained and coordinated similar operations by other law enforcement agencies at every level of government. The information gathered by informants was augmented by illegal wiretaps, letter openings, burglaries of homes and offices, secret examination of bank records, physical surveillance, and arranged murders. (Day 287) This resulted in many political activists and freedom fighters to be wrongly incarcerated.
Character Assassins
One of the major strategies COINTELPRO used to create division and discredit the Black power movement was character assassinations of movement leaders. During the civil rights era, “deviant sexuality” held substantial weight in society. Therefore, the FBI found an effective tool to “expose” gay and lesbian activists with the intention of creating conflict within organizations and groups without the use of violent tactics. By sending poison-pen letters (letters with abusive and malicious statements) and providing public-source information to reporters (such as arrest records), they were able to create division and discredit movements.
Indigenous People
In a few years after Wounded Knee, a civil rights protest in South Dakota, the death rate soared significantly, exceeding that of other major cities. It was discovered there was an omnipresent presence of FBI in the form of provocateurs and counterintelligence reports. Instead of conducting a murder investigation, “the FBI manipulated reports and evidence to clear the reservation police and foster the image of a gigantic conspiracy on the part of the American Indian Movement.” This enabled the FBI to justify the movement as a terrorist organization.
Black Panther Party
In August 1967, a memorandum was sent to COINTELPRO offices, instructing them to establish a file and appoint a Special Agent in Charge to “coordinate investigation and activities pertaining to “black nationalist, hate-type organization”. The purpose of this new program, according to the documents, was to “expose, disrupt, misdirect, discredit, or otherwise neutralize the activities of black nationalists, hate-type organizations and groupings, their leadership, spokesmen, membership, and supports, and to counter their propensity for violence and civil disorder.” The document continues to explain that any technique of exploitation could be employed as long as it actually serves to “disrupt, ridicule, or discredit” the organization, not simply bring more publicity to the group. (Stieva 85) Through the application of the COINTELPRO mandate, the FBI was able to shape, limit, and control the Black Panther Party by executing assassinations, anonymous letters, false propaganda campaigns, harassment arrests, and the use of informants and provocateurs. (Stieva 80)
Muslims
After 9/11, Muslims in America experienced a “government structure that was mobilized to systematically violate American constitution rights” (Bazian 166) while COINTELPRO was targeting thousands of individuals in both in the country and internationally. Their objective was to create and manage a fear of communism, which intentionally generated panic. Since then, the “number one priority of the Justice department has been to detect, disrupt, and prevent terrorist attacks.” (Bazian 167) This includes recruiting paid Muslim informants. The harmful outcome of this program was that every Muslim is assumed a suspect until proven otherwise. In exchange for a sense of belonging security, they are expected to sacrifice their civil rights.
Guilty until proven innocent
Black Americans live under the reality of “guilty until proven innocent” by white America and its legal system. (Miah 1) Author Malik Miah explores whether a similar program to COINTELPRO is underway in current times, since the FBI has been targeting the Black Lives Matter movement and what they refer to as “Black Identity Extremists.” At the same time, the FBI is ignoring white people who post violent things to social media, “including multiple white men who have recently carried out mass school shootings.” (Miah 1) The article progresses to discuss the response to open racism and what to do about it. “The Trump Era, “Make America White Again,” is a rerun of what Black people have faced, with inherent bias openly acted upon. Calling Blacks “apes” is not new. The dehumanization of Africans has been and remains a way to make Blacks less than human beings.” (Miah) He concluded that the only way to defeat white supremacy is by mass fightback. Black Americans live under the reality of “guilty until proven innocent” by white America and its legal system. (Miah 1) Author Malik Miah explores whether a similar program to COINTELPRO is underway in current times, since the FBI has been targeting the Black Lives Matter movement and what they refer to as “Black Identity Extremists.” At the same time, the FBI is ignoring white people who post violent things to social media, “including multiple white men who have recently carried out mass school shootings.” (Miah 1) The article progresses to discuss the response to open racism and what to do about it. “The Trump Era, “Make America White Again,” is a rerun of what Black people have faced, with inherent bias openly acted upon. Calling Blacks “apes” is not new. The dehumanization of Africans has been and remains a way to make Blacks less than human beings.” (Miah) He concluded that the only way to defeat white supremacy is by mass fightback.
3. Analysis
Ideology and Purpose
To define the ideology of propaganda, an analyst “looks for a set of beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviors, as well as for ways of perceiving and thinking that are agreed on to a point that they constitute a set of norms for a society that dictate what is desirable and what should be done.” (Jowett 268) In the case of COINTELPRO, the propaganda positioned politically objectionable organizations and groups as threats to American society and established order, which is White, Christian values, colonialism, and patriarchy. In the 1960s, the majority of the FBI’s focus was on dismantling the Black Power Movement, due to its “possibility of developing a movement that could challenge and possibly change the existing American power structure.” (Bazian 175) FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover wrote, in reference to left-leaning Black political organizations, “An effective coalition of black nationalist groups might be the first step toward a real Mau Mau in America.” The second goal was “to prevent the rise of a messiah who could unify and electrify the militant Black Nationalist movement.” (Day 286) COINTELPRO strove to release propaganda that would prevent organizations and groups from gaining respectability by discrediting them and their leaders to the white community.
Context
The context in which propaganda occurs is determined by an array of factors, including the current mood, expected states of the world social system, issues and corresponding constraints that prevent them from being resolved, power struggle, and parties involved. Groups and organizations that were fighting for basic human rights and justice were viewed by the FBI as threats to the expected state of the world social system in the eyes of the white, male colonizer; one who believes that men, Western culture, and deeply held capitalist beliefs and values are under attack. “The FBI as an agency, and CONITELPRO as a program were designed to protect the American population and ensure their safety. However, at its core, COINTELPRO was never about protecting society, but about controlling society. It sought to ensure the establishment of specific political and social norms, and actively sought to repress individuals and organizations who stood opposed to these norms.” (Stieva 74) This was done through social control. Law enforcement made broad attempts to safeguard the status quo with overt tactics such as harassment, intimidation, assault, detainment, and murder.” (Stieva 75)
Identification of the Protagonist
The term “identification of the propagandist” refers to the source of the propaganda. Sometimes, the source is publically known, other times, it is concealed, which is the case of COINTELPRO. COINTELPRO organizations were undercover and had decision-making processes influenced by secrecy. One major feature of secrecy involves the protection and establishment of power structures. Secrecy inherently presupposes a separation between the keepers of the secret and those who are excluded. The social inclusions and exclusions created by practices of secrecy are bound by structures of control whereby secrets allow individuals to control other people. Secret holders occupy a position of power in that. By withholding knowledge, they are able to shape a particular construction of reality.” (Hoerl 592-593)
The Structure of the Propaganda Organization
The structure of the propaganda organization refers to the hierarchy, goals, and the objectives to achieve the said goals. “Successful propaganda campaigns tend to originate from a strong, centralized, decision-making authority that produces a consistent message throughout its structure. For this reason, leadership will be strong and centralized, with a hierarchy built into the organization.” (Jowett 270) FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover initiated COINTELPRO programs, and he was the centralized, decision-making authority in the organization. The goals of COINTELPRO were to prevent organizations and groups from gaining respectability by discrediting them and their leaders to the white community. To reach this goal, Hoover “directed field agents to identify imaginative actions designed to “expose, disrupt, misdirect, discredit, or otherwise neutralize the activities” (Hoerl 595) among members of targeted organizations.
The Target Audience
Effective propaganda is directed at an audience that is “most likely to be useful to the propagandist if it responds favorably.” (Jowett 272) The target audience of the COINTELPRO propaganda was the white community and moderates involved in the left-leaning organizations. If they responded favorably, distrust and conflict would spread within the organizations, and they would then be discredited. When the FBI was targeting LGBT activists, they focused on discrediting them to “three separate segments of the community: the responsible Negro community, the white community, and Negro radicals.” (Leighton 161)
Media Utilization Techniques
There is a fair amount of strategy that goes behind choosing the right media to distribute propaganda. An analyst must understand the relationship between the media and the target audience, and how the media will be used. The analyst should research the anticipated reactions and responses to the propaganda. From there, the next step would be to “see what visual images are presented through pictures, symbols, graphics, colors, books, pamphlets, newspapers, and filmed, televised, and Internet representations.” (Jowett 275) The output of messages should be consistently tied to the ideology and purpose of the propaganda. “The most important institution that carries out this process is the so-called private—really state-controlled—media. The media function as a propaganda organ of the state, coloring the political prisoners as criminals, when in fact they are valiant revolutionary soldiers fighting on behalf of oppressed people. It is necessary for the media to paint these people as criminals because political prisoners have the ability to tell the truth and expose this system. It is in the state’s interest to silence political prisoners, to prevent the public from listening to their words and understanding their actions.” (Day 290)
Special Techniques to Maximize Effect
Successful propaganda must be “seen, understood, remembered, and acted on.” (Jowett 276) In order to achieve all of these elements, the techniques of the propagandist should be built in line with existing beliefs and opinions, have a credible source, appeal to the status and influence of opinion leaders, implement a system of reward and punishments, and implement visual symbols of power. To disrupt and discredit political targets, COINTELPRO employed fake mail campaigns, poison-pen letters (letters with abusive and malicious statements) and providing public-source information to reporters. In 1968, the FBI sent anonymous letters to the Los Angeles Black Panther Party that indicated Organization US plans to kill their leaders. This resulted in the two organizations fighting that led a shoot-out that killed two Panthers, followed by a string of retaliatory attacks. In a system of reward and punishment, a propagandist may use threats and physical inducements towards compliance.” (Jowett 278) A major premise of COINTELPRO was that “a law enforcement agency has the duty to do whatever is necessary to combat perceived threats to the existing social and political order.” (Stieva 74)
4. Conclusion
Upon reviewing the seven case studies above and the analysis of the purpose and strategies the FBI executed in COINTELPRO propaganda, it is possible to see the extent the FBI was able to disrupt, discredit, and neutralize not only Black Nationalist groups, but also several other minority groups. Under the guise of protecting the American population and ensuring their safety, COINTELPRO propaganda stated these groups threatened the white American power structure. They distributed propaganda that prevented politically objectionable organizations and groups from gaining respectability by discrediting them to the white community. Of course, the goal was not to protect, but to control. COINTELPRO focused on retaining social norms and repress individuals and organizations who opposed the social norms. Strategies included police raids, assassinations, direct confrontation, poison-pen letters, and fake mail campaigns, among others. Future areas of research may explore the FBI involvement in more current events, such as the Black Lives Matter and Environmental Justice movements. While COINTELPRO technically ended in the early 1970s when the FBI offices were broken into and incriminating documents were discovered, Black Americans and other minority groups are continuing to be dehumanized. Since the murder of George Floyd in June 2020, the government has been deliberately targeting Black Lives Matter protestors to disrupt and discourage the global movement. As technology advances and more avenues to distribute propaganda become available, it is important to continue this exploration.
5. Bibliography
Altherr, Thomas L, Churchill, Ward, and Wall, Jim Vander. The Cointelpro Papers: Documents from the FBI's Secret Wars against Domestic Dissent. American Indian Quarterly 17.1 (1993): 120-21. Web.
Bazian, Hatem. Muslims – Enemies of the State: The New Counter-Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO). Islamophobia Studies Journal 1.1 (2012): 165-206. Web.
Day, Susie, and Whitehorn, Laura. Human Rights in the United States: The Unfinished Story of Political Prisoners and Cointelpro. New Political Science 23.2 (2001): 285-97. Web.
COINTELPRO PRNDADAtiz, Erin. Organizational Secrecy and the FBI’s COINTELPRO–Black Nationalist Hate Groups Program, 1967-1971. Management Communication Quarterly 29.4 (2015): 590-615. Wed
Jowett, Garth, et. al. Propaganda & Persuasion. SAGE Publications, Inc. 2019.
Leighton, Jared. Character Assassins: How the FBI Used the Issue of Homosexuality against the Black Freedom Struggle. Journal of Civil and Human Rights 2.2 (2016): 151-85. Web.
Malik Miah. Guilty! Until Proven Innocent: A New COINTELPRO? Against the Current 33.3 (2018): 2-3. Web.
Stieva, Katelyn. Third Prize: A Victory, a Loss, or a Draw?: Assessing the Efficacy of the FBI’s COINTELPRO Methods against the Black Panther Party in Chicago. Journal of Military and Strategic Studies 18.4 (2018): 72. Web.
Świeboda, Halina, et. al. Social Control in the Face of Digital Propaganda. European Research Studies Journal XXIV. Issue 2 (2021): 1057-069. Web.