Anarchist Panthers

Ad Nauseam - 16/11/2010
Image:Anarchist Panthers

Anarchism and the Black Revolution
Resistance to the Babylonian Pigocracy

“Panther anarchism is ready, willing and able to challenge old nationalist and revolutionary notions that have been accepted as ‘common-sense.’

It also challenges the bullshit in our lives and in the so-called movement that holds us back from building a genuine movement based on the enjoyment of life, diversity, practical self-determination and multi-faceted resistance to the Babylonian Pigocracy. This Pigocracy is in our ‘heads,’ our relationships as well as in the institutions that have a vested interest in our eternal domination.” (From Anarchist Panther, October 1999, Edition 1, Volume 1).

“The nature of this zine is to embrace the relevant perspectives of all white not feeling the need to deify those who preach good wisdom. For all of our talk of anti-authoritarianism and non-hierarchical organizing, we do seem to have this nasty habit of not questioning the ethics and politics of certain anarchist "greats".

For instance, Emma Goldman was a racist and eugenicist and the IWW refused to organize Chinese workers in the 1920’s.

These people were not just "a product of their times" ; during their times many people were fighting the racist structures in society, but they chose to not join in the fight and sometimes chose to work against the struggle. When we continue to exalt the existence of these people and organizations without questioning their contradictions, then we contradict our own anarchist anti-authoritarian principles.”

From A Conversation with a Panther : a review of Anarchist Panther Zine, by Jena See.

History :

While the history of the Anarchist Panther is quite brief (first released in 1999), the associated political ideas and movements are much older.

Describing the history of this group cannot be contained in any one event or moment, but should be traced to a constellation of individuals, ideas, groups, movements, and practices : black nationalism, the formation of the Black Panthers in 1966, the civil rights movement, anti-authoritarianism, -oppression, -fascism, and –racism, all constitute the footing for the Anarchist Panther.

Like many who became disenfranchised with the authoritarian politics of communist (Marxist-Leninist) and socialist parties, anarchism was an appealing alternative to the traditional “Left” groups.

A leading figure in the black anarchist movement and former Black Panther, Lorenzo Komboa, wrote “Anarchism and the Black Revolution” in 1979, one of the most influential and powerful texts on anarchism, race, revolution, and anti-authoritarian organizing ever written – it also rescued anarchist thought from white dominance in North American. Influenced by anarchist thinkers such as Mikhail Bakunin, Petr Kropotkin, and Errico Malatesta, anarchism was applied to the revolutionary power of Black Nationalism and its anti-racist/anti-oppression tenets. Though class struggle does play a vital role in black anarchism, it is not the only avenue of oppression as the Marxist-Leninists may argue.

Carrying on the critical politics of the Black Panthers, the Anarchist Panther, and more broadly black anarchism, the racist-state apparatus is the primary focus of attack. Furthermore, the prison complex has always been seen as a means for the state to contain revolt and oppress a particular part of the population, and thus continues to be a central target for black anarchists(ism). Prisoner support groups, advocacy, and legal aid, are all important components of this kind of black activism.

As such, individuals such as George Jackson, Lorenzo Komboa, Robert Seth Hayes, and Mumia Abu-Jamal, just to name a couple, are prime examples of how the state enacts its racist tactics against a potentially revolutionary group or movement.

What proves to be the most striking aspect of the Anarchist Panther, and black anarchism itself, is the reaction to patriarchial forms of authority that persisted in radical black movements of the 1960’s and 70’s (Black Panthers included).

In addition, black anarchism confronts homophobia/heterosexism and sexism as a significant challenge to solidarity within the movement.

The Anarchist Panther ‘zine, while still young, has been involved with a range of issues and constantly maintains a revolutionary stance.

Modes of Social Change Advocated :

The overthrow of capitalism, and replacing this exploitative system with anarcho-socialist forms of social and political organization : collective ownership, de-decentralized, community-centred, non-hierarchical, and egalitarian.

Ashanti Alston Omowali’s website - anarchistpanther.net - have no new texts or updates since 2007.

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Ashanti Alston Omowali is an anarchist activist, speaker, and writer, and former member of the Black Panther Party. He was also a member of the Black Liberation Army, and spent more than a decade in prison after government forces captured him (and the official court system convicted him) of armed robbery.

Ashanti is a former northeast coordinator for Critical Resistance, currently co-chair of the National Jericho Movement (to free U.S. political prisoners), a member of pro-Zapatista people-of-color U.S.-based Estación Libre, and is on the board of the Institute for Anarchist Studies.

 16/11/2010

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