Bobby Seale (Founder)
Robert (Bobby) George Seale was born on October 22, 1936 in Dallas, Texas and settled with his family in Oakland, California. He lived in a house with his mother and father, George and Thelma Seale, and his two other siblings; he was the oldest of the three. His father worked as a master carpenter while his mother was a home-maker. Growing up with his younger brother Jon, his sister Betty, and his cousin Alvin Turner, he faced many hardships and abuse by his father. His father’s job caused heavy times of poverty for the family of five. Before moving to Oakland, the family moved from four different locations, from Dallas, to San Antonio, to Port Arthur, Texas, then finally in Oakland during World War ll.
For High School, Seale attended Berkeley High School. He dropped out of High School early and joined the U.S. Air Force in 1955. Spending three years in the Air Force, he received bad conducts for fighting with a commanding officer. After finishing his term, he went back to Oakland and started working at aerospace plants as a sheet metal mechanic. Also, he attended night school to earn his high school diploma.
He attended Merritt College, located in Berkeley. In college, he joined the Afro-American Association, (AAA), where he met Huey P. Newton. They both felt that the association they were both apart of only analyzed things, rather than act on the problems African Americans were facing. This is what sparked Seale’s and Newton’s ideas, they needed to act on problems, instead of sitting around and watching them; the Black Panther Party arose.
Bobby Seale was part of the original “Chicago Eight.” These people were defendants that were charged with conspiracy and inciting to riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. In the trial, Seale was sentenced to four years in jail, and after his release, he was put on trial again. After his second release he ran for Mayor of Oakland in 1973. He received the second highest votes but ultimately lost in the end.
Seale and Newton established the Black Panther Party together in October 1966. It was an organization for Self-defense and gain freedom for their race. Their slogan, “Freedom by any means necessary” gave a good sense of how they acted upon things. Many of their actions included violence, because they felt that that was the most powerful way to prove to others that they are strong and will not back down at any cost.
After the Black Panther Party ended, he wrote a cookbook called, “Barbeque’n with Bobby” and the proceeds went to a variety of non-profit social organizations. He dedicated a lot of his time on youth education programs. Many of them were instructional, non-profit groups that helped people develop the necessary tools and techniques to establishing community organizations within their neighborhoods. He also was a teacher at Temple University in Philadelphia, where he taught black studies. In Seale’s lifetime, he changed and revolutionized society in ways that not many people were able or willing to do.
For High School, Seale attended Berkeley High School. He dropped out of High School early and joined the U.S. Air Force in 1955. Spending three years in the Air Force, he received bad conducts for fighting with a commanding officer. After finishing his term, he went back to Oakland and started working at aerospace plants as a sheet metal mechanic. Also, he attended night school to earn his high school diploma.
He attended Merritt College, located in Berkeley. In college, he joined the Afro-American Association, (AAA), where he met Huey P. Newton. They both felt that the association they were both apart of only analyzed things, rather than act on the problems African Americans were facing. This is what sparked Seale’s and Newton’s ideas, they needed to act on problems, instead of sitting around and watching them; the Black Panther Party arose.
Bobby Seale was part of the original “Chicago Eight.” These people were defendants that were charged with conspiracy and inciting to riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. In the trial, Seale was sentenced to four years in jail, and after his release, he was put on trial again. After his second release he ran for Mayor of Oakland in 1973. He received the second highest votes but ultimately lost in the end.
Seale and Newton established the Black Panther Party together in October 1966. It was an organization for Self-defense and gain freedom for their race. Their slogan, “Freedom by any means necessary” gave a good sense of how they acted upon things. Many of their actions included violence, because they felt that that was the most powerful way to prove to others that they are strong and will not back down at any cost.
After the Black Panther Party ended, he wrote a cookbook called, “Barbeque’n with Bobby” and the proceeds went to a variety of non-profit social organizations. He dedicated a lot of his time on youth education programs. Many of them were instructional, non-profit groups that helped people develop the necessary tools and techniques to establishing community organizations within their neighborhoods. He also was a teacher at Temple University in Philadelphia, where he taught black studies. In Seale’s lifetime, he changed and revolutionized society in ways that not many people were able or willing to do.