For the uninitiated, the Black Panthers were a 1960's radical black organization formed after the killing of Malcolm X that scared the bejeebers out of the establishment, none more powerful that longtime FBI Chief J. Edgar Hoover, who called the group "the greatest threat to the internal security of the United States."
The Panthers had chapters across the country after being formed in the San Francisco Bay Area. A Panama City native, Harold Taylor, was one Panther who became known as one of the San Francisco 8 who were put on trial in federal court for their alleged involvement in an attack on a police station in San Francisco in 1971. Those charges were thrown out in 1974 after it was revealed police used torture to extract confessions in the case.
However, in January of 2007, police re-arrested Taylor in Florida and 7 other former Panthers in California and New York related to the '71 case of the murder of Sgt. John Young, and conspiracy to commit murder for a string of attacks on other officers. Taylor was freed on bail last September.
On Tuesday night, May 25, Taylor will be in Ybor City, giving the keynote address at the inaugural 2010 Tampa Bay African Liberation Day Celebration, which will also include a speech to be given by Professor Griff, formerly of Public Enemy.
University of Central Florida Political Science and African American Studies Professor Kurt Young says the time is ripe for new audiences to here Young's story and what he calls the mythology of the Panthers as being hellbent on destroying the power structure in the U.S.
"They were concerned with economic and political contradictions regarding powerlessness, by the realities of racism at the time," Young says. "Harold becomes relevant today because in many ways those problems still exist. Harold Taylor's story is important because he provides a vehicle to give the story that people need to hear."
Again, Harold Taylor will be speaking on Tuesday night, May 25 at the Good Luck Cafe in Ybor City, as part of the 2010 African Liberation Celebration, beginning at 6 p.m. Organizers say that the event is also expected to include a documentary presentation, spoken word performances, and dance performances as well.
For more information, you can contact UCF Professor Dr. Kurt B. Young at aimfirstcollective@gmail.com
This article appears in May 5-11, 2010.