Emory Douglas
Black Panther Minister of Culture 1967–1980
What sort of hope do you hold for the revolutionary spirit of young people in the world today? With all the problems that seem to be emerging around the world, and particularly in America right now, are you surprised that there isn’t a revolutionary upsurge, that revolution isn’t something today that’s spoken of or that people feel they can believe in?
Well it’s not surprising in some ways, because they kind of broke the spirit of the movement. And it was by design. You see the Black Panther Party was about human rights. The Civil Rights Movement was about achieving the right to get a job at a higher level of employment, the right to sit at the lunch counter, which was a grand thing to do... we considered ourselves to be a part of that. But at the same time you had those folks who, once that time was over, they didn’t do anything with all that. They became executives, they opened doors for other kids to be a part of this system that continues to exploit people, that continues to abuse human rights across the world. But on the other hand there is a movement going on. There are young people across the country trying to do things. It just happens that we have a whole set of different dynamic now.
You have young people who have grown up in the electronic age. You have young people who see their whole revolution sitting in front of a computer for 24 hours a day. There’s no human interaction on a grand scale. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a tool like anything else if used in a constructive way, to mobilise, organise and to educate. It has a many variable characters to it, you do have young people who are trying to do things and to organise in small pockets around the country and around the world. You do see this all the time. Of course there wouldn’t be this protests against the G8 and HIV aids, against hunger and all these things. But it’s not a cohesive movement as it was then, back in the day. Of course everything has to evolve, take on its own character, and within the context of the time in which it exists.
Do you ever believe that an organised party similar to the Black Party could again rise and be of relevance to people in today’s era?
Oh yeah, there can be. But that party grew out of the conditions of that time. It won’t take on the same characteristics as it did then, but it can be a dominant organization. You see, you have to understand, the Black Panther Party was an inspiration to others, it led by example. You had the Asian groups called the Brown Berets, you had the Puerto Rican groups called the Young Lords, you had the young whites who came out of the Appalachian, the Young Patriots, and you had your Asian groups, all these who were inspired by the Black Panther Party, took on the flavour of the Black Panther Party, but were working to organise in their communities whom we had solidarity with and participated with. We also worked with the union movement. We also worked with some of the progressive religious community. We also worked with the petty bourgeoisie, and some of those who desired change. So we worked across the board with a many, many different elements and people. So that’s part of the legacy of why the Black Panther Party had such an impact at that particular time and became such a threat, because there were people who helped us contribute to things that we did in the community. Social programs we put forward to serve the interests of the community. So an organization, for it to be like the Black Panther Party will need to truly serve the interests of the community, the people.
© 2008 EMORY DOUGLAS -ARTIST RIGHTS SOCIETY- (ARS)