Bobby Seale, a co-founder of the Black Panther Party, visited Rhode Island College on February 25, 1981. This digitized audio presented here is from an open reel recording (19810125-R068) of a lecture delivered by Seale at Rhode Island College at 8:00 PM that evening.
The photographs of Bobby Seale presented here are from a lecture given by Seale to the Political Science Club from earlier the same day (February 25, 1981). They are from the College Archives College Photographer collection.
During the speech, Seale discusses the creation, evolution, and history of the Black Panther Party and its members, as well his activism and roles leading protests against police brutality. Seale also discusses his trial and imprisonment in the aftermath of the 1968 Chicago riots and the New Haven Black Panther trials; the organizing of a grocery giveaway program; the media’s portrayal of the Black Panther Party; the importance of community organizing; voter registration; Atlanta murders of 1979-1981; 1980 Miami riots; political activism; and his run for mayor of Oakland.