PAUL SCHRAG: POWER TO THE PEOPLE >>>

Black Panther Party for Self Defense founder Bobby Seale dropped a truckload of knowledge on a standing-room-only audience last night at the Longshoreman’s Hall on Market Street.  Blessedly brought to Tacoma by University of Washington’s Black Student Union and Student Activities Board, Seale held the unwavering attention of a massive audience, weaving wisdom out of stories from his career as one of the great drivers of the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

Calling Robert George “Bobby” Seale a “civil rights activist” is like calling John Coltrane an “instrumentalist.” Starting in 1966, Seale, along with Dr. Huey P. Newton, began building one of the most successful, brilliant models of community action, revolution and elevation that has ever been. Guided by the so-called Ten Point Program, the Black Panther Party for Self Defense vouched for the rights of black Americans, and developed a host of community programs aimed at alleviating poverty and improving the health of communities in need, regardless of racial makeup. The Panther’s were so successful at wrenching the corrupt powers in the communities they served that they were eventually targeted and terrorized by the FBI, local police and other law-enforcement agencies. Coordinated attacks culminated in the murders of several Panthers, including Fred Hampton and Mark Clark, and coordinated efforts to infiltrate and destroy the organization from within. Despite it all, the Panthers became icons of the civil rights movement, and created a massive, still-growing legacy of potent political action.

Seale talked up President Barack Obama, calling attention to the president’s distinct awareness of the civil rights struggles of African Americans and the poor. Seale urged the audience to add to the hope and momentum generated by Obama’s election, calling for a return to participatory Democracy and “cooperational humanism” â€" i.e. power to the motherfucking people.

LINK: Learn about the Black Panther Party for Self Defense

LINK: Bobby Seale's Web site