Authors’ Series Lecture to focus on Black Panther memoir
Karin Stanford, who co-authored “Nine Lives of a Black Panther: A Story of Survival,” will conduct a talk on the book Tuesday. (Courtesy of Karin Stanford)
By Shreya Maskara
Dec. 2, 2014 12:00 a.m.
A UCLA research and academic center will host a talk Tuesday about a book detailing the experiences of a member of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense in Los Angeles during the 1970s.
Anyone can attend the free event hosted by the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies on the book titled “Nine Lives of a Black Panther: A Story of Survival.” The talk is a part of the center’s Authors’ Series Lecture, which tries to bring three to four authors to the UCLA campus monthly who have an influential take on African American culture.
The book, which is partially autobiographical, tells the story of Wayne Pharr’s involvement in the Southern California chapter of the Black Panther Party, a revolutionary black nationalist organization that reached its peak in the 1960s and 1970s, when Pharr was an active party member.
The book also details the events surrounding the shooting of Los Angeles Black Panther leaders: Alprentice “Bunchy” Carter and John Huggins. On Jan. 17, 1969, both men were fatally shot inside Campbell Hall during a meeting conducted by the Black Student Union. During the meeting, an argument ensued between Black Panther members, including Carter and Huggins, and members of The Organization Us, another activist group on campus. Carter and Huggins were both shot during the argument by members of The Organization Us.
“It’s important for students to understand the importance of UCLA in the Black Panther movement,” said Dawn Jefferson, special projects and board coordinator of the Bunche Center. “The issue is of relevance as we can see how much it resonates with everything going on today, especially with the Ferguson protests.”
Karin Stanford, who co-authored the book, will conduct the lecture. Stanford is currently the associate dean of humanities at California State University, Northridge.
Jefferson said the talk was initially planned for October, but due to the Pharr’s death shortly before the original date, it was postponed to December.
The talk will focus on Pharr’s experiences in the party and his role in a major shootout that happened with the L.A. Police Department Special Weapons And Tactics, or S.W.A.T, unit in December 1969, Stanford said. According to LA Times Magazine, the five-hour shootout took place in the Black Panther Party headquarters in L.A. and involved about 250 police and S.W.A.T. officers.
Stanford said she thinks people protesting against police brutality today, such as those protesting against the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, can learn from the experiences and tactics of Pharr. She added that she thinks protesters against police brutality are fighting some of the same issues Pharr fought against years ago.
“I hope the book inspires people to fight against the major militarization of the police that is happening today,” Stanford said.
Compiled by Shreya Maskara, Bruin contributor.
