African Americans–Civil rights–History

  • My poetry, my life

    Langston Hughes speaks to a live audience, interspersing stories from his life, including his childhood, family life, and how he got started writing, with readings of his poems. Recorded at the University of California December 10, 1958. Previously cataloged with the title “Reading and life history / Langston Hughes.”

  • Race and the grand jury

    Examination of the Berkeley City Council’s proposed resolution by Councilman Ron Dellums on February 20, 1968, calling for the release of Huey P. Newton, facing trial on charges of having killed an Oakland policeman. The motion calls for the release of Newton from jail in Oakland, CA, on the grounds that this indictment by the…

  • Cops and robbers IIIA: Crime and punishment in California

    Assemblyman John Vasconcellos of Santa Clara County and Robin Lamson discuss proposed legislation for reducing prison sentences and Lamson’s report “Crime and penalties in California” prepared by the Assembly Office of Research for the Assembly Committee on Criminal Procedure. Herb Kutchins of San Francisco Bail Project moderates. Part 1 of 2.

  • The funeral of Jonathan Jackson and William Christmas

    The funeral service of Jonathan Peter Jackson (1953-1970) and William Arthur Christmas (1943-1970), who were killed in the course of an armed action which they staged during a politically charged trial of prison inmates at the Marin County, California, Hall of Justice, on August 7, 1970. Contents include Master of Ceremonies at the funeral, Father…

  • Are the Black Panthers violent?

    Elsa Knight Thompson moderates a panel discussion about the alliance between the Black Panthers and the Peace & Freedom Party. Participants are Bobby Seale, Chairman of the Black Panther Party, and Bob Avakian and Mike Parker, two organizers of the Peace & Freedom Party. Seale clarifies that the Panthers are not an anti-white organization but…

  • Free Huey rally in Oakland

    H. Rap Brown (Jamil Al-Amin) and Stokely Carmichael deliver speeches at a Free Huey rally on February 17, 1968, held at the Oakland Auditorium. Stokely Carmichael opens his speech, suggesting a celebration of Huey P. Newton’s birthday not “as Huey Newton the individual, but as Huey Newton, part and parcel of Black people wherever we…

  • Rally for the Oakland Seven

    This is a recording of speeches given at a rally held in support of the seven men indicted on conspiracy charges for the October anti-draft demonstrations in Oakland 1967, and also in support of Huey Newton. Speeches by Bobby Seale, Chairman of the Black Panther Party and Black Panther Party co-founder; Bettina Aptheker, Free Speech…

  • A visit with Huey Newton at Vacaville Prison Facility

    Black Panther Party co-founder and leader Huey P. Newton discusses his imprisonment at Vacaville Medical Facility in Vacaville, CA with Denny Smithson of KPFA’s Public Affairs Department; Karen Wald, reporter for the Guardian; and Joe Blum, editor of The Movement. Newton talks about the way he’s been portrayed in the media and physical and social…

  • An interview with Huey Newton

    Huey Newton, interviewed by Alex Hoffman, KPFA reporter. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, discusses discrimination and abuse during his imprisonment, his impending trial, the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, and the Vietnam War. Newton notes that most of the black inmates in jail with him have become Black Panthers since his incarceration. Interview…

  • Intercommunal day of solidarity

    On March 5, 1971, the Black Panther Party held an event at the Oakland Auditorium called “Revolutionary International Day of Solidarity” for Bobby Seale, Ericka Huggins, Angela Davis, and Ruchell Magee, and also to honor Party Minister of Defense Huey P. Newton on his release from prison. Huey P. Newton was the featured speaker. This…