“Panther anarchism is ready, willing and able to challenge old nationalist
and revolutionary notions that have been accepted as ‘common-sense.’
It also challenges the bullshit in our lives and in the so-called movement that
holds us back from building a genuine movement based on the enjoyment of life,
diversity, practical self-determination and multi-faceted resistance to the
Babylonian Pigocracy. This Pigocracy is in our ‘heads,’ our relationships
as well as in the institutions that have a vested interest in our eternal domination.”
(From Anarchist Panther, October 1999, Edition 1, Volume 1).
“The nature of this zine is to embrace the relevant perspectives of all
white not feeling the need to deify those who preach good wisdom. For all of
our talk of anti-authoritarianism and non-hierarchical organizing, we do seem
to have this nasty habit of not questioning the ethics and politics of certain
anarchist "greats". For instance, Emma Goldman was a racist and eugenicist
and the IWW refused to organize Chinese workers in the 1920's. These people
were not just "a product of their times"; during their times many
people were fighting the racist structures in society, but they chose to not
join in the fight and sometimes chose to work against the struggle. When we
continue to exalt the existence of these people and organizations without questioning
their contradictions, then we contradict our own anarchist anti-authoritarian
principles.” (From A Conversation with a Panther: a review of Anarchist
Panther Zine, by Jena See (http://www.anarco-nyc.net/anarchistpanther/arsenal.html)).
Anarchism
Anti-Fascism
Black Anarchism
Lorenzo Komboa
Ashanti Alston
Sam Mbah
Anarchist People of Colour
Anti-Racist Action
Affinity Groups
Anarchist Black Cross Federation
1. Founding of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense in October, 1966 by
Elbert “Big Man” Howard, Huey P. Newton, Sherman Forte, Bobby Seale,
Reggie Forte, and Little Bobby Hutton.
2. The imprisonment, and subsequent murder of George Jackson in the prison yard
at San Quentin (August, 1971).
3. Civil Rights movement in the United States (1960’s and 1970’s).
4. Speeches given by Ashanti Alston (http://www.anarco-nyc.net/anarchistpanther/audio.html)
E-mail: anarchistpanthers@runbox.com
Web-site: http://www.anarco-nyc.net/anarchistpanther.html
Since the focus of this group is on the principles of black anarchism there
is no central locus of activity other than where oppression, racism, and capitalism
currently exist – so, everywhere!
The first issue of the Anarchist Panther ‘zine was released on October
1, 1999.
While the history of the Anarchist Panther is quite brief (first released in
1999), the associated political ideas and movements are much older. Describing
the history of this group cannot be contained in any one event or moment, but
should be traced to a constellation of individuals, ideas, groups, movements,
and practices: black nationalism, the formation of the Black Panthers in 1966,
the civil rights movement, anti-authoritarianism, -oppression, -fascism, and
–racism, all constitute the footing for the Anarchist Panther.
Like many who became disenfranchised with the authoritarian politics of communist
(Marxist-Leninist) and socialist parties, anarchism was an appealing alternative
to the traditional “Left” groups. A leading figure in the black
anarchist movement and former Black Panther, Lorenzo Komboa, wrote “Anarchism
and the Black Revolution” in 1979, one of the most influential and powerful
texts on anarchism, race, revolution, and anti-authoritarian organizing ever
written – it also rescued anarchist thought from white dominance in North
American. Influenced by anarchist thinkers such as Mikhail Bakunin, Petr Kropotkin,
and Errico Malatesta, anarchism was applied to the revolutionary power of Black
Nationalism and its anti-racist/anti-oppression tenets. Though class struggle
does play a vital role in black anarchism, it is not the only avenue of oppression
as the Marxist-Leninists may argue.
Carrying on the critical politics of the Black Panthers, the Anarchist Panther,
and more broadly black anarchism, the racist-state apparatus is the primary
focus of attack. Furthermore, the prison complex has always been seen as a means
for the state to contain revolt and oppress a particular part of the population,
and thus continues to be a central target for black anarchists(ism). Prisoner
support groups, advocacy, and legal aid, are all important components of this
kind of black activism. As such, individuals such as George Jackson, Lorenzo
Komboa, Robert Seth Hayes, and Mumia Abu-Jamal, just to name a couple, are prime
examples of how the state enacts its racist tactics against a potentially revolutionary
group or movement.
What proves to be the most striking aspect of the Anarchist Panther, and black
anarchism itself, is the reaction to patriarchial forms of authority that persisted
in radical black movements of the 1960’s and 70’s (Black Panthers
included). In addition, black anarchism confronts homophobia/heterosexism and
sexism as a significant challenge to solidarity within the movement. The Anarchist
Panther ‘zine, while still young, has been involved with a range of issues
and constantly maintains a revolutionary stance.
The overthrow of capitalism, and replacing this exploitative system with anarcho-socialist
forms of social and political organization: collective ownership, de-decentralized,
community-centred, non-hierarchical, and egalitarian.
Lorenzo Komboa
Ashanti Alston
Sam Mbah
Mikhail Bakunin
Errico Malatesta
Petr Kropotkin
Murray Bookchin
Angela Davis <http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blbio_angela_davis.htm
AND http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Davis>
Kuwasi Balagoon <http://www.kersplebedeb.com/mystuff/profiles/balagoon.html
AND http://www.anarco-nyc.net/anarchistpanther/writing3.html>
George Jackson
The state, racism, sexism, homophobia, capitalism, and political authority in
general.
Primarily paper copies of the ‘zine Anarchist Panther, but internet sources
are available as well (see contact information).
The Anarchist Panther ‘zine promotes a variety of revolutionary actions:
armed resistance, affinity groups, community-based social programs, co-operation
with other related struggles and groups, pamphleteering, and virtually any tactic
that leads to the overthrow of racism, sexism, and the state without using authoritarianism
as a means.
“On Lupem Ideology” by Eldridge Cleaver
(http://www.anarco-nyc.net/anarchistpanther/otherwriting8.html)
“Anarchism and Revolution in Black Africa” by Stephen P. Halbrook
(http://www.anarco-nyc.net/anarchistpanther/otherwriting4.html)
“Political Prisoners, Prisons, and Black Liberation” by Angela Davis
(1971)
(http://www.anarco-nyc.net/anarchistpanther/otherwriting5.html)
“Anarchy and Organization” by Murray Bookchin
(http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bookchin/leftletterprint.html)
“What is Anarchism: Anarchism vs. Marxist-Leninism & Revolutionary
Organization” by Lorenzo Kom’boa Ervin
“Anarchism and the Black Revolution” by Lorenzo Kom’boa Ervin
(can be found at http://www.circlealpha.com/library/black_revolution/)
AGONY Prisoner Support Page http://flag.blackened.net/agony/abc.html
Anarchist Panther http://www.anarco-nyc.net/anarchistpanther.html
Arsenal Magazine http://www.azone.org/arsenalmag/
Prison Moratorium Project http://www.nomoreprisons.org/
Anarchist People of Colour http://www.illegalvoices.org/apoc
Mumia Abu-Jamal’s Freedom Journal http://www.mumia.org/freedom.now/
Critical Resistance http://www.criticalresistance.org/creast/index.htm
Emails from Anarchist Democratic Forces (ADF) of Uganda http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/africa/uganda/adf1sep2000.html
African Anarchism http://www.struggle.ws/africa/
Black Panther Party (history) http://www.marxists.org/history/usa/workers/black-panthers/