Comments on: Panthers guard desi-owned businesses

By: Harbeer

Harbeer — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:34:28 +0000

17 Â· curiouscat said

The panthers in Houston are part of the 'new' black panther movement and have done away with much of what the panthers were simultaneously decried and applauded for

While Quanell X and the New Black Panthers are probably the most vociferous and visible (read "obnoxious, petty, sensationalistic) group using the "Black Panther" name, they do not represent the "real" Black Panther Party that was founded in the 1960s. Hard core old school former (and current) Black Panther Party community activists (as well as former Young Lords) do remain in town, though they're more likely found doing community work at places like the S.H.A.P.E. Community Center than making noise on the local news.

The old school Panthers are still around, they're just eschewing the limelight for doing real work like helping people get off drugs, keeping their neighborhoods safe, helping people get jobs, raising their grandchildren and helping old people do their grocery shopping and that kind of "glamorous" stuff.

God bless our brave stockbrokers.

By: curiouscat

curiouscat — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:28:14 +0000

I think this is an interesting story, but the notion that these are the same black panthers we saw in the mid-60s through the 70s is the same ones we are seeing protecting desi-owned stories is quite wrong. The panthers in Houston are part of the ‘new’ black panther movement and have done away with much of what the panthers were simultaneously decried and applauded for, including free breakfast programs for kids, a 10 point program that included not just rights to have abstract rights but substantive social and economic rights like housing, clothing, and food. The ‘new’ panther party in Houston doesn’t have these commitments and has eschewed much substantive programming for media-savvy, high-profile situations. They are no longer community-based as they were back in the day. Nonetheless, the black brown unity is interesting, but I’m guessing its a fleeting compact.

By: countrybell

countrybell — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:24:18 +0000

now that the black panthers have been 'hired', a few queries..

how much does it cost?
is it possible to de-hire them later or are they 'visitors' who would never leave
what if latino lions come tomorrow with a similar offer?
would you trust your daughter alone to mind the store with these guards around?

By: BasimKamina

BasimKamina — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 11:18:40 +0000

It’s important to mention the panther they got a quote from’s name is Shabazz, the Tribe of Shabazz being a designation among Black Muslims. It goes back to Malik Shabazz, and the solidarity that was already underway between Black and Brown Muslims in innercities. Like Innercity Muslim Action Movement in Chicago. Islam can be a major common ground between politicized African Americans and South Asian Americans.

By: Harbeer

Harbeer — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 08:27:12 +0000

Woops, wrong thread.

By: Harbeer

Harbeer — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 05:53:47 +0000

I know there are a lot of Libertarians who read this site, so here is a Libertarian perspective on what's happening in Galveston for y'all. That desi dude isn't the only Galvestonian who's pissed off about being shut out.

By: Harbeer

Harbeer — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 19:28:21 +0000

2 Â· Taz said

You didn't do the interview???

I returned to Ess Eff from Houston yesterday, but I'm going to see if any Houston Indymedia reporters take this story bait. (Big ups to Rob, Rachel, Katie and Nick for their efforts with the homeless population despite having to deal with their own jobs and kids and grandparents and lack of power--anarchists are such lazy whiners!)

DIY, mutual aid, solidarity. I saw some beautiful things in the wake of Ike.

By: whatmeworry?

whatmeworry? — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:35:42 +0000

But who will watch the watchmen?

By: Kam

Kam — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 00:15:27 +0000

So how does one go about hiring Black Panthers?

By: Dr Amonymous

Dr Amonymous — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:28:12 +0000

anom #8:

Wait a minute! Isn’t this called a protection racket?

Yeah, sort of like https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/rohloff/www/war%2520making%2520and%2520state%2520making.pdf&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2“>how government’s are formed. It ain’t just the mafia, and the protection rackets aren’t just the province of the Black Panthers.