Bobby Seale

Bobby Seale
The Black Panther newspaper · Public domain · source
Name	Bobby Seale
Birth date	October 22, 1936
Birth place	Liberty, Texas, United States
Occupation	Activist, author

Bobby Seale is a renowned American activist and author, best known for co-founding the Black Panther Party with Huey P. Newton. Born in Liberty, Texas, Seale grew up in Oakland, California, and was influenced by the Civil Rights Movement and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. He was also inspired by the works of Malcolm X, Frantz Fanon, and Che Guevara. Seale's early life was marked by his involvement in the NAACP and the Congress of Racial Equality.

● Early Life and Education

Bobby Seale was born to George Seale and Thelma Seale, and spent his early years in Liberty, Texas, before moving to Oakland, California. He attended Merritt College, where he met Huey P. Newton and became involved in the African American community. Seale was also influenced by the Montgomery Bus Boycott, led by Martin Luther King Jr., and the Watts Riots in Los Angeles. He was a member of the Raphael Gould Morris American Legion Post 78, and was also involved in the Oakland NAACP.

● Career

Before co-founding the Black Panther Party, Seale worked as a car mechanic and a photographer. He was also a member of the Soul Students Advisory Council, a student organization at Merritt College. Seale's career as an activist began to take shape when he met Huey P. Newton, and the two began to discuss the formation of a black nationalist organization. They were influenced by the Nation of Islam, led by Elijah Muhammad, and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, led by Stokely Carmichael.

● Black Panther Party

The Black Panther Party was founded in Oakland, California in 1966 by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale. The party's initial goal was to patrol African American neighborhoods and protect residents from police brutality. The party's Ten-Point Program called for self-defense, employment, and housing for African Americans. The party also established free breakfast programs for children and free health clinics. Seale and Newton were influenced by the Marxist-Leninist ideology of Mao Zedong and the Cuban Revolution, led by Fidel Castro.

● Trial and Imprisonment

In 1969, Seale was arrested and charged with conspiracy and inciting a riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. The trial, known as the Chicago Seven trial, was widely publicized and marked by controversy. Seale was bound and gagged in the courtroom after he repeatedly interrupted the proceedings. He was eventually sentenced to four years in prison for contempt of court. Seale was also tried for the murder of Alex Rackley, a Black Panther Party member who was suspected of being a police informant. The trial ended in a hung jury, and Seale was eventually released from prison in 1972.

● Later Life and Activism

After his release from prison, Seale continued to be involved in activism and politics. He ran for Mayor of Oakland in 1973 and received over 40% of the vote. Seale also taught at Temple University and University of Pennsylvania, and wrote several books, including Seize the Time and A Lonely Rage. He was also involved in the National Black Political Convention and the Black Power movement. Seale has continued to be an advocate for social justice and human rights, and has worked with organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

● Legacy

Bobby Seale's legacy as a civil rights activist and author continues to be felt today. He has been recognized for his contributions to the Black Panther Party and the Civil Rights Movement, and has received awards from organizations such as the National Council of Negro Women and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Seale's work has also been recognized by Nelson Mandela, Jesse Jackson, and Cornel West. His autobiography, Seize the Time, has been widely praised and is considered a classic of African American literature. Seale's legacy continues to inspire new generations of activists and scholars, including those involved in the Black Lives Matter movement and the Ferguson unrest.