Black Panther Party

Ernest Goodman Papers

drice — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 10:49:05 -0400

A founding member of the Detroit Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, Ernest Goodman served as NLG President, and formed the nation’s first (known) interracial law firm: Goodman, Crockett, Eden and Robb. He was deeply involved with the labor movement and some of its most bitter union organizing struggles and remained committed throughout his career to serving the common man, with clients ranging from Communists, Black Panthers, prison inmates, and African-Americans during the civil rights movement.

Part I of Mr. Goodman’s papers reflect his involvement in civil rights, constitutional law and labor issues, focusing on the Michigan Smith Act trial, the Sherrill School desegregation case, and the Black Panther trial for the murder of a Detroit Police officer.

Part II reflects his activities as counsel in controversial cases, particularly first amendment and civil rights cases, courts martial, deportation and denaturalization, and the 1971 Attica prison uprising. These papers further focus on the events, places, and people who influenced both his personal life and a career spent in service to social justice for the common man.

Part III (Two storage boxes) focuses on various cases, mainly from the 1980s-1990s, Goodman's writings, his work with Wayne State University Law School, and Estonian family correspondence.

Mike Hamlin and Joann Castle Papers

drice — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 15:59:07 -0400

Michael Charles Hamlin was born Oct 17, 1935. He graduated from Ecorse High School and attended the University of Michigan on a scholarship. He enlisted in the Marines, working as a firearms instructor until he was discharged in 1960. He worked as a delivery truck driver for the Detroit News, where he met Kenneth Cockrel and John Watson. He later worked for Wayne State University’s newspaper, “South End.” Mike Hamlin was active in political groups such as the Black Workers Conference. He was a founding member of the League of Revolutionary Black Workers and served as an officer. He also organized the black radical newspaper, “Inner City Voice.”

Joann Carole Castle was born May 30, 1937. In 1957 she married Donald J. Castle, Chairman of the Catholic lay organization Hourglass, with whom she had six children. After their marriage ended in the early 1970s she began attending Wayne State University. Both Hamlin and Castle were active in the Motor City Labor League (MCLL). Hamlin was a founder of the organization and Castle worked for a period as a coordinator. Both attended meetings of the Control-Conflict-Change group of the Ad Hoc Action Group of Concern Citizens.

The papers consist of records from Mike Hamlin and Joann Castle’s involvement in MCLL, largely through the Red Squad files of police surveillance that documented meetings, personal actions and information. The collection also includes articles, clippings and correspondence from the controversy over the Archdiocese Opportunity Program to aid the impoverished in Detroit and the Hourglass group involvement to support self-determination of African Americans in the late 1960s. Joann’s thesis on the Community Health Associations is also included.

Subject Focus: Black Revolutionaries

eclemens — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 12:21:12 -0500

The Reuther Library celebrates African American History Month with a brief look at resources in our collections that deal with the topic of Black revolutionaries. We define Black revolutionaries as persons or groups whose goal was to create a positive change in the lives of African Americans through radical action. The means to this end varied from person to person, organization to organization - the action could be carried out with words or through armed conflict, the desired results could be equality for all or separation of races all together. The following resources chronicle the struggle for identity and equality and highlight the rich legacy of social and political activism and reform within the various revolutionary movements. read more »

(27974) Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD), Brown (Al-Amin), Undated

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:55:25 -0500

Jamil Al-Amin (H. Rap Brown), at far left, walks with two other men in what appears to be a bus station.

(9921) Cesar Chavez and Bobby Seale give a press conference, 1972

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 13:16:49 -0500

Cesar Chavez and Bobby Seale (Black Panther Party) give a press conference at Merritt College in Oakland, California.

(9922) Cesar Chavez and Bobby Seale meet students from Malcolm X Elementary, 1972

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 13:16:49 -0500

Cesar Chavez and Bobby Seale (of the Black Panther Party) meet students from Malcolm X Elementary, 1972.

Chavez and Seale gave a Press Conference on May 9, 1972 at Merritt College in Oakland California. After the Press conference, they met students from Malcolm X Elementary School which is located in Berkeley, California.

Richard Ybarra is the man on the far right. Children are not identified.

(27950) Angela Davis, Speeches, Detroit, 1974

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 03:02:18 -0500

Activist Angela Davis participates in a rally at Detroit's Cobo Hall.

(27951) Angela Davis, Speeches, Detroit, 1974

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 03:05:37 -0500

Activist Angela Davis addresses the crowd during a rally at Detroit's Cobo Hall.

(27953) Angela Davis, Speeches, Detroit, 1972

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 03:16:58 -0500

Activist Angela Davis addresses the crowd at an unidentified Detroit rally from behind a screen of bulletproof glass.

(27954) Angela Davis, Speeches, Detroit, 1972

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 03:20:01 -0500

Activist Angela Davis addresses the crowd at an unidentified Detroit rally from behind a screen of bulletproof glass.

(27965) Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD), Police, Confrontation, 1970

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:49:41 -0500

Police officers surround the National Coalition to Combat Fascism in America's Community Center located at 3376 16th Street (near 16th and Myrtle) during a confrontation between the members of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD) and Detroit Police.

The confrontation began when two police officers attempted to issue ordinance violation tickets to two men who were selling newspapers on the sidewalk. The accounts of what happened next vary, however, a fight broke out between the officers and members of the crowd that had gathered, back-up was called for and shots were fired. The result was a nine 9-hour siege involving nearly 100 police officers in which four police cars were destroyed by Molotov cocktails, one police officer was wounded by shrapnel and Patrolman Edward Smith was killed by a shotgun blast to the head. 15 young defendants, seven men and eight women, who had barricaded themselves in the Headquarters were charged with murder and conspiracy to murder.

(27955) Angela Davis, Demonstrations, Detroit, 1971

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 03:27:33 -0500

Members of the activist group Detroit Youth Against War and Fascism hold banner that reads "The people will free Angela Davis and Ruchell Mage" during U.S. president Richard Nixon's appearance at Cobo Hall.

(27956) Carmichael (Ture), Political Rallies, Detroit, 1966

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 03:42:48 -0500

Stokely Carmichael (later Kwame Ture), makes an appearance at a "Meet the Candidates Rally" at the Jeffries Homes/Project. The rally was called on behalf of the candidacies of Kenneth V. Cockrel, who was running for state representative of the 11th district, and Rev. Albert Cleage (later Jaramogi Abebe Agyeman), who was running as a Democrat for the 13th district congressional seat.

(27957) Carmichael (Ture), Cleage (Agyeman), Political Rallies, Detroit, 1966

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 03:48:20 -0500

Stokely Carmichael (later Kwame Ture) and Rev. Albert Cleage (later Jaramogi Abebe Agyeman) make an appearance at a "Meet the Candidates Rally" at the Jeffries Homes/Project. The rally was called on behalf of the candidacies of Cleage, who was running as a Democrat for the 13th district congressional seat, Kenneth V. Cockrel, who was running for state representative of the 11th district.

(27961) Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD), Headquarters, Detroit, 1970

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 05:16:45 -0500

An exterior view of the headquarters for the Detroit Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD), located at 611 Continental. A banner on second story reads, "National Committee to Combat Fascism."

(27962) Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD), Headquarters, Detroit, 1970

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 05:20:19 -0500

An interior view of the headquarters for the Detroit Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD), located at 611 Continental. Chuck Holt and Ronnie Irwin sit behind a desk.

(27963) Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD), Police, Confrontation, 1970

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 09:07:30 -0500

An exterior view of 3376 16th Street, the National Committee to Combat Fascism in America's Community Center, after the confrontation between Detroit Police and members of Detroit's Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD).

Note: Police entering the building wear gas masks and the front window is broken, possibly because canisters of tear gas were used.

(27964) Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD), Police, Confrontation, 1970

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:42:12 -0500

Police officers and local media swarm outside of the National Coalition to Combat Fascism in America's Community Center located at 3376 16th Street (near 16th and Myrtle). At center, left is newspaper columnist Nadine Brown, who served as an intermediary between the Black Panthers and the Detroit Police during the 9-hour siege.

The confrontation began when two police officers attempted to issue ordinance violation tickets to two men who were selling newspapers on the sidewalk. The accounts of what happened next vary, however, a fight broke out between the officers and members of the crowd that had gathered, back-up was called for and shots were fired. The result was a nine 9-hour siege in which four police cars were destroyed by Molotov cocktails, one police officer was wounded by shrapnel and Patrolman Edward Smith was killed by a shotgun blast to the head. 15 young defendants, seven men and eight women, who had barricaded themselves in the Community Center were charged with murder and conspiracy to murder.

(27966) Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD), Police, Confrontation, 1970

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:59:37 -0500

An unidentified man is arrested during a confrontation between Detroit POlice and members of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD).

(27967) Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD), Police, Confrontation, 1970

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 11:07:23 -0500

Acting mayor, Mel Ravitz (at center), addresses the crowd gathered during the confrontation between Detroit Police and members of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD).

The confrontation began when two police officers attempted to issue ordinance violation tickets to two men who were selling newspapers on the sidewalk. The accounts of what happened next vary, however, a fight broke out between the officers and members of the crowd that had gathered, back-up was called for and shots were fired. The nine 9-hour siege that followed involved nearly 100 police officers, and resulted in four police cars being destroyed by Molotov cocktails, one police officer being wounded by shrapnel and Patrolman Edward Smith being killed by a shotgun blast to the head. 15 young defendants, seven men and eight women, who had barricaded themselves in the Community Center were charged with murder and conspiracy to murder.

(27968) Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD), Police, Confrontation, 1970

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 11:14:15 -0500

The remains of four police cars, burned by molotov cocktails and stripped by an angry crowd during a confrontation between members of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD) and the Detroit Police.

The confrontation began when two police officers attempted to issue ordinance violation tickets to two men who were selling newspapers on the sidewalk. The accounts of what happened next vary, however, a fight broke out between the officers and members of the crowd that had gathered, back-up was called for and shots were fired. The nine 9-hour siege that followed involved nearly 100 police officers, and resulted in four police cars being destroyed by Molotov cocktails, one police officer being wounded by shrapnel and Patrolman Edward Smith being killed by a shotgun blast to the head. 15 young defendants, seven men and eight women, who had barricaded themselves in the Community Center were charged with murder and conspiracy to murder.

(27968) Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD), Police, Confrontation, Brown, 1970

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 11:28:50 -0500

Nadine Brown, reporter and columnist for the Michigan Chronicle, addresses the press during a confrontation between Detroit Police and members of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD). Ms. Brown served as an intermediary during the 9-hour stand-off and is credited with bringing the event to a peaceful conclusion by persuading most of the BPPSD members to come out of the Community Center that they occupied.

The confrontation began when two police officers attempted to issue ordinance violation tickets to two men who were selling newspapers on the sidewalk. The accounts of what happened next vary, however, a fight broke out between the officers and members of the crowd that had gathered, back-up was called for and shots were fired. The nine 9-hour siege that followed involved nearly 100 police officers, and resulted in four police cars being destroyed by Molotov cocktails, one police officer being wounded by shrapnel and Patrolman Edward Smith being killed by a shotgun blast to the head. 15 young defendants, seven men and eight women, who had barricaded themselves in the Community Center were charged with murder and conspiracy to murder.

(27970) Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD), Police, Confrontation, 1970

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 13:12:03 -0500

Police officers and local media crowd the scene as members of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD) are led to a police wagon after a 9-hour stand-off. At center, left is newspaper columnist Nadine Brown, who served as an intermediary between the Black Panthers and the Detroit Police.

The confrontation began when two police officers attempted to issue ordinance violation tickets to two men who were selling newspapers on the sidewalk. The accounts of what happened next vary, however, a fight broke out between the officers and members of the crowd that had gathered, back-up was called for and shots were fired. The result was a nine 9-hour siege in which four police cars were destroyed by Molotov cocktails, one police officer was wounded by shrapnel and Patrolman Edward Smith was killed by a shotgun blast to the head. 15 young defendants, seven men and eight women, who had barricaded themselves in the Community Center were charged with murder and conspiracy to murder.

(27971) Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD), Police, Confrontation, 1970

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 13:17:37 -0500

Members of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD) are loaded into a police wagon after their 9-hour stand-off with Detroit Police officers comes to an end.

The confrontation began when two police officers attempted to issue ordinance violation tickets to two men who were selling newspapers on the sidewalk. The accounts of what happened next vary, however, a fight broke out between the officers and members of the crowd that had gathered, back-up was called for and shots were fired. The result was a nine 9-hour siege in which four police cars were destroyed by Molotov cocktails, one police officer was wounded by shrapnel and Patrolman Edward Smith was killed by a shotgun blast to the head. 15 young defendants, seven men and eight women, who had barricaded themselves in the Community Center were charged with murder and conspiracy to murder.

(27972) Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD), Police, Confrontation, 1970

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 13:19:46 -0500

Members of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD) are loaded into a police wagon after their 9-hour stand-off with Detroit Police officers comes to an end.

The confrontation began when two police officers attempted to issue ordinance violation tickets to two men who were selling newspapers on the sidewalk. The accounts of what happened next vary, however, a fight broke out between the officers and members of the crowd that had gathered, back-up was called for and shots were fired. The result was a nine 9-hour siege in which four police cars were destroyed by Molotov cocktails, one police officer was wounded by shrapnel and Patrolman Edward Smith was killed by a shotgun blast to the head. 15 young defendants, seven men and eight women, who had barricaded themselves in the Community Center were charged with murder and conspiracy to murder.

(27973) Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD), Huey Long, 1970

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:50:28 -0500

Huey Newton, at center, at an unidentified location.

(27975) Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPPSD), Chuck Holt, Undated

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:06:50 -0500

Chuck Holt is escorted through an unidentified location by a police officer.

(27976) John Watson, Ken Cockrel, South End, 1969

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:16:47 -0500

John Watson, editor of the South End student newspaper, speaks with Kenneth Cockrel.

(27977) The South End, Newspaper, 1969

eclemens — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:28:43 -0500

The masthead of Wayne State University's student newspaper, The South End, during the tenure of editor John Watson (1968-1969).

The Black Panther

kchinery — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 14:41:08 -0400

Processed