Steve Struggle on the Black Panther Movie |

Edit: A short time ago I asked Steve Struggle, one of the original Black Panthers, to give me his view of the new Black Panther movie. This was his reply.

Jason,

The movie, Black Panther, is making Hollywood rich.

According to Variety, “Black Panther” has grossed $521 million domestically, making it the ninth-highest release of all time. In its fourth weekend, “Black Panther” is heading for a $40 million-plus weekend, which would make it the No. 2 superhero release of all time over “The Dark Knight’s” $535 million..” (http://variety.com/2018/film/news/black-panther-billion-global-box-office-1202723326/)

But the dozens of Black Panthers incarcerated in US prisons and jail or exiled internationally, they receive scant attention, and none of the wealth that Hollywood is raking in using their namesake.

The Black Panther Party used the image of the Black Panther as an extension of the Black Power movement in the Southern United States in the 1950’s and 1960. The Lowdnes County, Alabama Freedom movement used the symbol of the Black Panther in its political work.(http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-1781) In this sense, the use of the Black Panther as a comic strip is almost insulting, and certainly is ahistorical.

Various political organizations, such as the Jericho Movement, the Anarchist Black Cross, and others have, for years, supported these, and other anti-imperialist, freedom fighters. Support may take the form of holding letter writing events to send communication of support. Others send money to their prisoners so that they can purchase things in jail that they need for their survival. Other support by initiating or sustaining legal campaigns aimed at freeing the prisoners.

In light of the popularity of the movie, Black Panther, we think it is vital to remind as many as can be reminded, that there are Black Panthers, real people, not comic or movie characters, that are incarcerated in US prisons and jails, or who are exiled internationally. We must remind those who can be reached that the US government waged a vicious campaign called :countepro: to destroy the Black Panther Party. No fewer than 28 Panthers were murdered by the police, the FBI*, or by those opposed to Black Freedom between 1i966 and 1972.

Thank you for sharing this important information with your viewers on YouTube.

Red Salute! ,

Steve