A study of the various Black political organizations in the United States between the years 1960 and 1994 will reveal a number of "fighting formations." These formations were usually offshoots of larger organizations that had been further divided. As such, they were not primarily envisioned as fighting groups. This lack of original dedication to a "fighting mission" will help elucidate organizational strengths, weaknesses, and potentials (or loss of same). Not inc1uded in this study are the nonpolitical Black fighting formations found among the street gangs, or those dedicated to criminal activity. However, they will be mentioned as they re1ate to the lost potential amongst Black political fighting formations.