Revolutionary grain book 11x11 by stacy asher

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REVOLUTIONARY GRAIN CELEBRATING THE SPIRIT OF THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY’S LEGACY IN PORTRAIT’S AND STORIES.

Photographs by Susanna Lucia Lamaina

Preface by Susanna Lucia Lamaina Introduction by Cornell West How the Black Panther Party Came to Use the Cat by Billy X Jennings Ten Point Program Associates by Gail Shaw Political Prisoners by Billy X Jennings Community Activism by Barbara Easley Cox Black Panther Party; Black Community News Service. What’s art have to do with it? by Emory Douglas

Brother Elder Freeman

Dedication

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure Dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est lab.

Susanna Lucia Lamaina

REVOLUTIONARY GRAIN CELEBRATING THE SPIRIT OF THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY’S LEGACY IN PORTRAIT’S AND STORIES.

Susanna Lucia Lamaina

Table of Contents

Dedication page

Preface by Susanna Lucia Lamaina

Introduction by Cornell West

Ten Point Program

Portraits and Stories

Associates by Gail Shaw

Political Prisoners by Billy X Jennings

Community Activism by Barbara Easley Cox

Black Panther Party; Black Community News Service. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s art have to do with it? by Emory Douglas

Fallen Comrades

How the Black Panther Party Came to Use the Cat by Billy X Jennings

90 Acknowledgments

Preface

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit,

non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim

sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore

id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consecte-

magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud

tur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut

exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo

labore et dolore magna aliqua.

consequat. Duis aute irure

Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullam-

Dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore

co laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis

eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat

aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cil-

non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim

lum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat

id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consecte-

cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt

tur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut

mollit anim id est lab.

labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore

Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullam-

eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat

co laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis

non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim

aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cil-

id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consecte-

lum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat

tur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut

cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt

labore et dolore magna aliqua.

mollit anim id est lab. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud consequat. Duis aute irure Dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat

by Susanna Lucia Lamaina

Introduction

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit,

non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim

sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore

id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consecte-

magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud

tur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut

exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo

labore et dolore magna aliqua.

consequat. Duis aute irure Dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore

co laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis

eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat

aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cil-

non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim

lum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat

id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consecte-

cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt

tur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut

mollit anim id est lab.

labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore

Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullam-

eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat

co laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis

non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim

aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cil-

id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consecte-

lum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat

tur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut

cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt

labore et dolore magna aliqua.

mollit anim id est lab.

Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullam-

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit,

sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore

magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud

exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo

consequat. Duis aute irure

Dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore

eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat

non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim

id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consecte-

tur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut

labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullam-

co laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis

aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cil-

lum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat

cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt

mollit anim id est lab.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit,

sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore

magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud

exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo

consequat. Duis aute irure

by Cornell West

consequat. Duis aute irure Dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat

The Ten-Point Program

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that, whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and, accordingly, all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.

1. We want freedom. We want power to determine the destiny of our black community. We believe that black people will not be free until we are able to determine our destiny. 2. We want full employment for our people. We believe that the federal government is responsible and obligated to give every man employment or a guaranteed income. We believe that if the white american businessmen will not give full employment, then the means of production should be taken from the businessmen and placed in the community so that the people of the community can organize and employ all of its people and give a high standard of living. 3. We want an end to the robbery by the capitalists of our black community. We believe that this racist government has robbed us, and now we are demanding the overdue debt of forty acres and two mules. Forty acres and two mules were promised 100 years ago as restitution for slave labor and mass murder of black people. We will accept the payment in currency which will be distributed to our many communities. The germans are now aiding the jews in israel for the genocide of the jewish people. The germans murdered six million jews. The american racist has taken part in the slaughter of over fifty million black people; therefore, we feel that this is a modest demand that we make. 4. We want decent housing fit for the shelter of human beings. We believe that if the white landlords will not give decent housing to our black community, then the housing and the land should be made into cooperatives so that our community, with government aid, can build and make decent housing for its people. 5. We want education for our people that exposes the true nature of this decadent american society. We want education that teaches us our true history and our role in the present-day society. We believe in an educational system that will give to our people a knowledge of self. If a man does not have knowledge of himself and his position in society and the world, then he has little chance to relate to anything else.

6. We want all black men to be exempt from military service. We believe that black people should not be forced to fight in the military service to defend a racist government that does not protect us. We will not fight and kill other people of color in the world who, like black people, are being victimized by the white racist government of america. We will protect ourselves from the force and violence of the racist police and the racist military, by whatever means necessary. 7. We want an immediate end to police brutality and murder of black people. We believe we can end police brutality in our black community by organizing black self-defense groups that are dedicated to defending our black community from racist police oppression and brutality. The second amendment to the constitution of the united states gives a right to bear arms. We therefore believe that all black people should arm themselves for self- defense. 8. We want freedom for all black men held in federal, state, county and city prisons and jails. We believe that all black people should be released from the many jails and prisons because they have not received a fair and impartial trial. 9. We want all black people when brought to trial to be tried in court by a jury of their peer group or people from their black communities, as defined by the constitution of the united states. We believe that the courts should follow the united states constitution so that black people will receive fair trials. The fourteenth amendment of the u.S. Constitution gives a man a right to be tried by his peer group. A peer is a person from a similar economic, social, religious, geographical, environmental, historical and racial background. To do this the court will be forced to select a jury from the black community from which the black defendant came. We have been, and are being, tried by all-white juries that have no understanding of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;average reasoning manâ&#x20AC;? of the black community. 10. We want land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice and peace. When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s god entitle them, a decent respect of the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. 13

Sister Barbara Easley Cox & Big Man

Sister Barbara Easley Cox was a member of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Oakland and San Francisco, California, and North African (Algiers) chapter of the Black Panther Party. 14

Sister Barbara Easley Cox I joined the Black Panther Party in 1967, while still a

In 1970, I returned to Oakland, California for about three

student at San Francisco State University. I had so

months and then was sent to Algiers in North Africa.

many roles that it is difficult to say what you would call

Algiers was the international section of the Black Panther

me, other than a rank and file member.

Party. I worked with Eldridge and Kathleen Cleaver and

I worked in distribution of the Black Panther Party newspaper, with Sam Napier. It was an all night job, before the age of computers. We counted and labeled all the newspapers; generally there were about ten panthers involved in the process. I worked at the Free Breakfast program in San Francisco, California, which required me to be there by 6 AM, and if I was lucky, I reported to the main office, on Fillmore Street by 10am.

many others. I was there for about two years and the roles varied. I became a mother and started a nursery with the help of others. I created a library for books and Panther history, which was later, lost. I learned Photography, how to take and develop photographs and, as always I was a representative of the Black Panther Party. From 1972 to 1973, I lived and worked in Germany around the war issues and the rights of Giâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and held political education classes. Our group was called the voice of the Lumpen. We worked with the German left,

When I arrived at the main office, I was given about 50

but I did not pass myself off as a Black Panther because

to 100 newspapers to sell for that day. I would return

by then the split in the party had occurred. In 1973, I

by 6 PM and generally I would have a collective meal

returned to America.

with other Panthers, followed by political education classes or we would go home. Going home meant to a Panther pad or your family home. I had a Panther pad and lived with four other party members including my husband Donald Cox (DC) who was the Field Marshall of the party. I kept a nice pad! I worked in New York for a few months but then I was send to Philadelphia, PA (where I grew up), and this was a new opportunity for me. My role as a community activist/Black Panther Party representative was to talk to many groups and individuals, raise money for national head quarters in Oakland, California and

The Black Panther Party change my life through world travel, exposure to different people, Cultures, Religions, friendships, dangerous situations, painful things, commitment to self and others and a general growth in intellect, it was a college education and it changed everything for the better. I have so many good memories but here are several: having a child in North Korea, working in Germany and North Africa and lastly, having shared my youth with some of the most committed sisters and brothers of the Black Panther Party.

always sell the party newspapers. 15

I have always held as a young woman, that I must represent the best of humanity, gender and race. The Black Panther Party made my commitment to these things stronger. After returning to America and securing housing, employment and reacquainting myself with current events, I started looking for political involvement. In 1975, I started working for the Department of Public Welfare as a social worker, and this continued for 27 years. I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe they paid me for something I loved doing. I joined the alliance of Black Social Workers in 1983 and formed a group called Sisters Remember Malcolm X. Sisters Remember Malcolm X existed for ten years. We had yearly programs regarding Malcolm X and other political affairs. In 1985, I joined the Advocate Community Development Corporation (ACDC). We rehabilitated and built over 100 housing units in 1994. I volunteered and created with several other people a non-profit bookstore and after school program for children. It was a most rewarding time for me. I now donate time and money to community affairs and preserving the legacy of the Black Panther party. I consider every day a day of service to the people.

Sister Charlotte “Mama C” Hill O’Neal Charlotte and Peter O’Neal were members of the

Charlotte as stated, “My present day community out-

Kansas City, Missouri Chapter of the Black Panther

reach service continues to be informed by my time as

Party for Self Defense during the 1960’ and 1970’s.

a Black Panther, my work is truly a continuation of the

Both grew up in the artistic and politically vibrant,

work that I did as member of the Black Panther Party”.

albeit racist, environs of what was then the blues capitol of the world. Both inherited all of the strengths that are commonly found in African communities across the global Diaspora. As a high school student in the 1960’s Charlotte

In addition to her work in the community, Sister Charlotte is a poet, musician, visual and spoken word artist. A documentary film called Mama C: Urban Warrior in the African Bush was made about Charlotte in 2012. It tells the story of her personnel and cultural legacy.

fought racism and “white only” segregation through her involvement in Civil Rights marches and protesting to force her high school administration to recognize the deep evil of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination. She joined the Black Panther Party at age 18 and married the chairman of the Kansas City chapter, Pete O’Neal, at the National Black Panther headquarters in Oakland, California. In 1971, they left the United States

Sister Charlotte Hill O’Neal, (aka Mama C)

and went to Algeria and then settled in Tanzania, Africa.

along with her husband Pete O’Neal, (not yet

In 1991 Charlotte along with her husband Pete cre-

Missouri Chapter of the Black Panther Party.

ated the United African Alliance Community Center

photographed) were members of the Kansas City,

(UAACC), in Tanzania, Africa, a non-profit community based NGO, for the purpose of providing programs and projects for the enrichment of the Arusha community, both urban and rural and also to promote closer cultural ties to communities in America and around the world. 23

Brother Emory Douglas, Revolutionary and Graphic artist was a member of the Oakland and San Francisco, California Chapter of the Black Panther Party from 1967

Brother Emory Douglas

to 1980.

Brother Emory Douglas I served as the Minister of Culture for the Black Pan-

Through inexpensive printing techniques such as

ther Party. Under my art direction and production,

mimeographs, photostats, prefabricated press types

“The Black Panther,” the party’s official newspaper

and screen tones, along with offset printing, using ink

reached a circulation peak of more than 130,000 a

and marker drawings, I ran a fast-pace newspaper

week in 1970.

operation during a dangerous period where raids and

I created images that communicated complicated political message to a community with high illiteracy rates, a largely non-reading demographic. My illustrations needed to pack a punch, land a visual knockout and at the same time inform and above all educate the community. In my newspaper designs, of posters and leaflets, complex meanings can be extracted at a glance from portrayal of life in the 1960’s and 1970’s in Oakland, California and beyond where racism, police brutality, inhumane housing conditions, poverty and pain were every day realities. I created strong graphic images,

police shoot outs were the norm. My Black Panther activities, being the man responsible for the official Panther media, made me a high-level law enforcement target and earned me spots on numerous FBI lists. Today, I travel the world with my lap top computer, accepting invitations to discuss and show my illustrations, instrumental in shaping the people’s political identity while nurturing their notions of liberation. My visual commentary continues to move and inspire as a younger generation of culture artists and workers embrace my grassroots motifs and intrepid style.

revolutionary art that spoke to the party’s ant-Viet-

I have an active career as an independent graphic art-

nam War beliefs, its platform of self-determination for

ist and explore themes like drone warfare, the Prison

indigenous peoples all over the globe, its campaign

Industrial Complex and Guantanamo Bay in my art.

against government corruption and its creation of

Unfortunately, many of the same issues I addressed

social programs such as the Free Breakfast for School

four decades ago, police brutality, hyper incarcer-

Children program.

ation of black men, food instability, lack of quality

I received formal training at City College of San Francisco. My artistic background is rooted in the Black

healthcare for poor people, lack of affordable housing persist today.

Arts Movement with Amiri Baraka, (AKA LeRoi Jones),

As much as things change, things stay the same. You

before becoming involved with the Black Panther

can tweak some aspects of my art work, add the name

Party. I documented the spirit of resistance in this ugly

of another corporation and you have the same issues

chapter of American history.

decades later. 19

Brother Cyril “Bullwhip” Innis Jr. I did a brief stint in the Air Force, came out and

bullshit walks action talks. I do not stray from these

caught up with the times and had to surrender to

two principles.

three years of forced labor. I developed my mind and learned about my culture and self during this negative time in my life. I also learned about this country and how the system has been used to keep my people down.

When the racist, demagogue, avaricious, government, sic their pig force on us, and attempted to destroy the Black Panther Party, I had to make moves to keep myself serving the people especially the youth. I was

I was 23 years old when I returned home and became

helped by an individual in the Bronx to obtain em-

involved in the community by joining the Malcolm X

ployment in the Board of Education, District 9.

Community Center. I met other young Afrikan sisters and brothers who envisioned the same mind set. We were approached by members of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense to join in 1968. We became the second Panther Office in Queens. I was the drill instructor.

I brought my skills that I learned and developed from the Black Panther Party to interact and interrelate with the youth and the Bronx communities. From my involvement in the education field I was able to expand my knowledge of self and others. I worked for

I was sent to the Harlem office after the bust of the

17 years in the Board of Education in New York City,

New York 21 comrades. I met Brother Zayde Shukur

serving youth from elementary to high school. I ven-

and came up under his leadership. I and other rank

ture out to another agency, to provide a deeper input

and file members worked to keep the office function-

into the community and the youth.

ing for the community. I interacted and interrelated with members of the Young Lords Party and help them to establish an office in the Bronx. I was sent as the Lieutenant of Information to the Ministry of Information in the Bronx. I was involved in creating the “Right On” newspaper with other comrades which at the time replaced the Black Panther newspaper from California, using the same format, and continuing to

At the Department of Youth and Community Development, I interacted and interrelated with various youths and community agencies throughout New York City for 23 years. I have met and maintain a positive relationship with many people who value my knowledge and work ethics that I required from my involvement with the Black Panther Party.

provide the people with information. This took place

My stance is ‘Once A Panther, Always a Panther’ I

due to the split between East Coast and West coast

am proud of the stance that all the comrades took in

created by the FBI COINTELPRO. I ran the distribu-

order to let our people know we will struggle against

tion of the papers throughout the East Coast. I was

any system which keep us from freedom of mind,

the ‘People’s Driver’ and I transported comrades

body and soul.

around the city, when they came in from out of state. I was affectionately given the name of Bullwhip from

Brother Cyril Innis Jr., a fifth generation of a Captive Afri-

my comrades. This is due to the stance that I take.

kan Refugee Survivor was born In Flushing Queens, and

I believe that “A Person’s Word is Their Bond” and

raised in East Elmhurst/Corona, New York.

“Your Practice Speak for Its Self”. In other words, 21