The Black Panther Party

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The Pacifica Radio Archives is proud to present a sample of the many recordings held in our vaults of key activists and organizers of the Black Panther Party. Founded in Oakland, CA in 1966 as the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, the organization fought back against racial profiling and police harassment and abuse in Black communities and stressed self-determination, self-empowerment and Black autonomy through its Ten-Point Program. This collection of audio recordings documents speeches, interviews, news coverage and documentaries by or about the Black Panther Party as broadcast on Pacifica Radio stations between 1966 and 1989 and includes the voices of many notable members of the Panthers, including Huey P. Newton, Eldridge Cleaver, Bobby Seale, H. Rap Brown (Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin), Kathleen Cleaver and Elaine Brown. The Pacifica Radio Archives worked in conjunction with the University of California, Berkeley's Moffitt Library to preserve the recordings offered here.

The Pacifica Radio Archives would like to extend special thanks to the UC Berkeley Moffitt Library Media Resources Center for their assistance in making these audio recordings available. Visit the original Pacifica/UC Berkeley Moffitt Library Black Panther Party Sound Recording page, which contains bibliographic citations and additional audio/video resources, at the UC Berkeley Moffitt Library Media Resources Center website.

Notice for copyright claimants: The Pacifica Radio Archives will honor all takedown requests in compliance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and other applicable intellectual copyright laws. Please send all copyright inquiries to info@pacificaradioarchives.org or to the Archives' physical address at: 3729 Cahuenga Boulevard West, North Hollywood, CA, 91604 c/o Archives Director for review. Claimants are advised to leave detailed contact information including name, telephone number, e-mail address, and/or physical address where they may be reached, as well as all information pertaining to the specific nature of the complaint.

Recordings available as part of this project: 

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 are anti-racism and oppression.

The Black Panther Party in Sacramento

This recording is an actuality, including interviews, of events on May 2, 1968 surrounding a bus trip made by the Black Panther Party from Oakland to Sacramento in support of Eldridge Cleaver. The recording was made by KPFA volunteer Denny Smithson, who rode on the bus with Party members and press. The trip began at the Alameda County Courthouse where Bobby Seale appeared at 9:30am.

Black Panther press conference at KPFA

This is a recording of a Black Panther press conference held at KPFA and at the Hall of Justice in Oakland. First on the recording is Charles Garry, attorney for Bobby Seale, followed by Seale himself, regarding the Cleaver situation the night before this recording was made. Also includes an interview with Reverend Earl Neil of St. Augustine Episcopal Church, Oakland.

Black Panther rally at Bobby Hutton Memorial Park

Actuality of a rally held at Bobby Hutton Memorial Park (a.k.a. DeFremery Park) in Oakland, hosted by Masai Hewitt, Minister of Education of the Black Panther Party. The rally opens with Elaine Brown performing her song "Seize the Time".
Previous title: Black Panther rally : Oakland.

Bobby Hutton funeral and memorial service (Part 1 of 2)

Actuality of the memorial service held at Ephesian Church of God in Christ for Bobby Hutton (1950-1968), the first Black Panther recruit, who was killed in a shootout with the Oakland Police Department. Colin Edwards interviews Louella Cleaver, sister of Eldridge Cleaver, about her reaction to Hutton's and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s deaths.

Bobby Hutton funeral and memorial service (Part 2 of 2)

Continuation of the rally at Merritt Park in memory of Bobby Hutton (1950-1968), and in support of Huey Newton and Eldridge Cleaver. James Forman (1928-2005) of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee eulogizes Hutton and talks about how to deal with "the hogs." Audio distorted in the last minute, cuts out mid-speech. Reported by Colin Edwards of KPFA.

Bobby Seale at the Oakland auditorium.

Speech by Bobby Seale, chairman of the Black Panther Party, at the Free Huey Newton rally held at the Oakland Auditorium on February 17, 1968 on Newton's birthday.

Bobby Seale for the defense of Huey Newton

Speech given on April 16, 1968 by Bobby Seale, Black Panther chairman, during a Black Panther meeting in defense of Huey Newton, fellow co-founder of the Black Panther Party. The speech was delivered at the Kaleidoscope, a largely white nightclub in Los Angeles.

Huey Newton statement read by Bobby Seale at KPFA

Statement written by Huey Newton, read by Bobby Seale, expressing grief at the death of George Jackson and calling for black solidarity. Introduced as a missive from the Inter-communal news service of the Black Panther Party. This is an excerpt from BC0239.05A.

Conversation with Kathleen Cleaver / interviewed by Julius Lester.

Kathleen Cleaver, Communications Secretary of the Black Panther Party, State Assembly candidate on the Peace & Freedom Party platform and wife of Black Panther Party Minister of Information Eldridge Cleaver, discusses Black activism and her husband's activities and persecution with host Julius Lester.

Eldridge Cleaver at California Hall

Black Panther Party Minister of Information Eldridge Cleaver speaks at a meeting sponsored by the Eldridge Cleaver Defense Committee on November 21, 1968. Cleaver speaks on his experiences with the prison system in California, and on the Panthers' efforts to gain political recognition.

Eldridge Cleaver interview

Elsa Knight Thompson interviews Eldridge Cleaver at the offices of Ramparts magazine in September, 1968. Cleaver had recently been prohibited from teaching a course (class 139X) at the University of California, Berkeley about social change in America.

Eldridge Cleaver on the drug culture

Eldridge Cleaver speaks about the drug culture in the United States and about Timothy Leary. Announcement about the Cleaver's relationship with the Black Panther Party and Timothy Leary and his wife.

Eldridge Cleaver's speech at a noon rally

Actuality of Eldridge Cleaver's speech at the University of California, Berkeley campus in response to Governor Ronald Reagan's cancellation of proposed U.C. Berkeley class 139X, for which Cleaver was scheduled to be a lecturer.

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 Earl Neil and a eulogy by Huey P.

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.
The digitized version of this recording is on two CDs.

Huey Newton interviewed from jail in Oakland, CA (part 2 of 2)

Part 2 of Elsa Knight Thompson's interview with Huey Newton in jail in Oakland, CA. Thompson asks Newton whether short-term solutions offered by white communities are compatible with the aims of the Black Panthers. Newton asserts that the Black Panther Party program could be instituted immediately were it not for the racist power structure.

Huey Newton-Charles Garry press conference

KPFA volunteer Claude Marks reports from the office of San Francisco attorney Charles Garry to report on the press conference hosted by Garry and Huey P. Newton of the Black Panther Party. Newton had just been released from a two-year jail sentence on $50,000 bail and planned to appeal his conviction on manslaughter charges.

Huey P. Newton funeral (part 1 of 4)

KPFA produced this biographical sketch of Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, compiled from audio clips from the Pacifica Radio Archives. Newton was murdered in West Oakland on August 22, 1989. The tape is introduced by Ginny Z. Berson.

Huey P. Newton funeral (part 2 of 4)

Proceedings from the funeral for Huey P. Newton at Allen Temple Baptist Church in East Oakland, CA. The Reverend J. Alfred Smith, Sr. delivers Newton's eulogy. The Reverend J. Alfred Smith, Jr. introduces the Reverend Charles Johnson, the Reverend Victor Madeiras, and Father James Goode. Leola Giles performs "Precious Lord, Take My Hand." Remarks are offered by Dr.

Huey P. Newton funeral (part 3 of 4)

Continuation of the proceedings from the funeral for Huey P. Newton at the Allen Temple Baptist Church in East Oakland, CA. Johnny Spain and Father Earl Neil offer brief remarks. Phyllis Sneed performs a solo, "Great is Thy Faithfulness". The Reverend J. Alfred Smith, Sr. delivers Newton's eulogy and closing prayer (out of order because Pastor J. Alfred Smith Sr. had to leave).

Huey P. Newton funeral (part 4 of 4)

Continuation of the proceedings from the funeral for Huey P. Newton at the Allen Temple Baptist Church in East Oakland, CA. Remarks by the Reverend Frank Pinkard, Bobby Seale and Reverend Cecil Williams. The congregation sings "We Shall Overcome" during the recessional. Reported by Bari Scott and Wendell Harper. Outro by Ginny Z. Berson.

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.

Interviews with the Soledad Brothers (Episode 4 of 4)

David Stevens conducts interviews with inmates at Soledad Prison in California. John Cluchette, Fleeta Drumgo, and George Jackson discuss their transfer to San Quentin, their experiences at Soledad, and the prospects for their upcoming trial. Winner of Golden Mike Award.

Police fire on Black Panther headquarters

KPFA's Colin Edwards reports on the police attack on the Black Panther Party headquarters on Grove Street in Oakland on September 10, 1968.
Sensitive language: shit

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.

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.
Previously written in catalog record: "Held on February 17, 1968 at the Oakland Auditorium, Oakland, California; or February 18, in Los Angeles, California." Re-edited with box label text on 27 Oct 2009.

Revolution for breakfast

Jeff Kamen narrates this audio documentary about the Free Breakfast for School Children program put on by the Black Panthers and the Young Lords throughout the United States.

A statement from Huey P. Newton

Black Panther Party co-founder Huey P. Newton speaks about his political activities and events surrounding his trial from jail in San Luis Obispo, CA. Newton asks for immunity from the United Nations for Eldridge Cleaver and the release of all Panthers currently serving prison sentences. Restricted distribution rights.

A talk with Bobby Seale

Black Panther Party Chairman Bobby Seale is interviewed by Elsa Knight Thompson in the San Francisco County Jail two days after his return to the Bay Area from the Chicago Conspiracy Trial. Seale talks about first meeting Huey P. Newton, his origins as a revolutionary, and the difference between self-defense and terrorism. First aired the day it was recorded during KPFA's open hour.

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 conditions at Vacaville.

Yippie rally, Sproul steps, Berkeley

Tom Hayden, Jerry Rubin and Eldridge Cleaver speak at the Yippie Pre-Erection Day rally on the University of California, Berkeley campus on October 30th, 1968. They talk about the current political situation, and student issues.