Powerful voices pay tribute to the Black Panther party in Frank Ogawa Plaza

By Geremy D. Lowe

Hundreds of people congregated at Frank Ogawa Plaza in downtown Oakland to honor the historic founding of the Black Panther Party in 1966. The BPP celebrated its 52nd anniversary on Oct. 14 with local vendors and community members present to empower the people of Oakland.

“The Black Panther Party, to me, means unity,” Zafirah Ned, wife of an original Panther and Panther cub, said. “They helped our people live better.”

In 1969, the BPP offered more than 35 community survival programs, including the Free Breakfast for School Children program, and cultural awareness to enhance our communities, Ned said.

BPP members were the original creators of the first affordable housing in the U.S., free health clinics, the Women, Infants, and Children programs and many others.

The celebration provided a stage for local musical talents who donated their time to make the event welcoming. Kev Choice and Jennifer Johns were among the many artists who performed — echoing a message of resiliency.

Oakland mayoral candidate Cat Brooks was among the many attendees. Brooks encouraged everyone to participate in the midterm election and reiterated the importance of understanding all propositions and the values of the candidates.

“This is so representative of what we are fighting for,” she said. “Resilience, resistance, culture and legacy.” Brooks wants the community to stand firm on these key values, she said, and really reflect on the drastic changes Oakland has faced in the last four years.

Among the many powerful voices present was an original party member, Saturu Ned, formerly known as James Mott, one of the founders of the Sacramento chapter of the BPP in 1968. Ned presented an important message to the crowd on how to change Oakland and our nation for the greater.

“No more divisiveness, no more against one another,” Ned said. “That is the formula they [the U.S. government] used to stop us from achieving what we could’ve achieved.”

Ned set out to empower the community through a global conversation and continued community involvement. He fortified the true mission of The BPP and dismissed stereotypes that many believe.

Communities in America benefit from the hard work and sacrifices of the BPP. There will soon be a call for new community involvement at the Willie Keyes Recreation Center on Union Street in West Oakland. The mission that seems impossible is definitely possible, by using any resources you have access to, said Ned.