Black Panther

66th Infantry Division (Black Panthers) Shoulder Patch, ca. 1939-45, fully-embroidered gold patch with multi-colored cotton/silk threads, 2 3/4 in., © Flying Tiger Antiques

The prominent orange panther patch on the model’s jacket is similar to that worn by the 66th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army during World War II.

1966 Black Panther Party patch. © Dora Creminati (BeatGorilla).

The black panther was also selected as an emblem of power for the Black Panther Party, which used organized force for political advancement during the 1960s fight for civil rights.