#CRITICAL RACE THEORY PRESENTS CASSANDRA’S CURSE PART THREE

#CRITICAL RACE THEORY PRESENTS

A NOVEL

CASSANDRA’S CURSE

A Black Life in A Police State

PART THRE

A NOVEL BY

Eugene Stovall

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Episode Five

“Hey, is that you, Kenny?” Bert hails his former neighborhood chum. “Man, I haven’t seen you in a coon’s age.”

Kenny is ?standing in one of several corridors of the downtown Shriner’s Temple where LA’s Black Power conference is being held. All over the United States, Black people are echoing Stockley Carmichael’s call for black power and Los Angeles’ black community is responding. The Los Angeles Black Congress, in association with its member organizations, including the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Black Panther Party sponsor the Black Power conference. Heavily advertised as the first Black Power conference in the country, black people from across the political landscape ___ including the separatist Republic of New Africa, the accommodationist NAACP and the integrationist CORE organizations flock to Los Angeles to participate in the conference. Black intellectuals, , students and Interested onlookers from all over Los Angeles, up and down California and across the United States, converge on the downtown LA Shriners Temple. The Black Power conference is a magnet for undercover agents from every conceivable local, state, federal and international law enforcement, intelligence and military agencies including LAPD police officer and FBI Conintelpro agent, Bert MacAble. ?

“I want you to take me to the conference,” Hazel tells Kenny.

“What conference?” Kenny asks.

“I told you about it, a month ago.”

“I guess I forgot.”

“You said that you might be able to pick up some new customers.”

“Yeah, I remember.” Since moving in with Hazel, Kenny resumes dealing weed ___ specializing in the Acapulco gold and Panama red he acquires from his Boyle Heights contact. Over the past year, Kenny has steadily built up a solid clientele of conservative middle-class squares ___ ?earning a steady, if modest, income. Always looking for new customers, it seems coincidental that. while he and Hazel pass through the corridor outside the Shriner Temple’s auditorium, ‘Egg’ spots his ‘homey’ from the old neighborhood. Bert ambles over and gives Kenny a brotherly hug. Kenny has no reason to suspect Bert either of being an undercover cop or of being responsible for Allie’s death. But, on the other hand, neither is Kenny a fool. Red taught Kenny not to trust anyone, especially childhood homeys.

“Yeah,” Kenny says as he pulls back from Bert, “what’s up with you. You’re Egg, right?”

“Yeah, ‘Egg’ but I go by, Bert, now. You remember me, right?” Bert beams at Hazel. She gives Bert her an icy stare before dismissing him with a bored look. ?“I go by Bert, now,” Bert repeats unnerved by Hazel’s haughty reaction. Bert would not have recognized Kenny, now over six feet tall and wiry strong, had he not been shown pictures of the dope dealer by his Cointelpro contact. Bert remains the short kid, Kenny remembers ___ compensating for his lack of height by pumping iron.

“Man, it really hurt me when I heard what happened to your brother,” Bert remarks looking up at the former Slauson,?“Al and I were really tight.”

“I know,” Kenny says, remaining noncommittal, but he wonders whether this chump might be in the market for some weed. “So, Egg, what you been up to?”

“You can call me Bert,” the undercover cop reiterates with some irritation. Then he catches himself. “You mean after I graduated from L.A. State?”

Kenny shuffles his feet, somewhat intimidated by the knowledge that Bert is a college graduate. Kenny hasn’t even graduated from high school. That Hazel takes advantage of the Educational Opportunity Program to attend UCLA makes college a sore point with Kenny. Every so often, Hazel tries to convince Kenny to get a GED. But Kenny refuses.

People, passing through the corridor, wearing buttons or displaying placards?everything from getting out of Viet Nam to on-demand abortions for women, jostle the three of them. Across the hall, activists hand out leaflets and newspapers. Down the way, Black power advocates give impromptu speeches. Even Hari Krishna’s pass out incense as their coreligionists whirl about, weaving their way through the crowd. Some of the conference organizers, wearing officious-looking credentials, rush about,, officiously trying to maintain some order out of all the chaos. Representatives of the Congressional Black Caucus negotiate security for the conference with LAPD. However, many of the conferees ___ especially the Black Panthers __ object to the presence of uniformed police and threaten a walk out. Members of the Nation of Islam are to be seen everywhere, quietly observing the events.

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“After college, I’ve had a hard time getting a full-time job,” Bert continues. “I’ve been working at different youth centers. When they have the funding, I get paid; when they don’t, I’m a volunteer.”

“Where you at now?” Kenny asks.

“The Community Relations for an Independent People youth center. You know it?”

“Naw,” Kenny replies. “Makes it hard to pay the bills, I guess.”

“You’re right about that,” Bert replies, “but, I’m lucky.”

“Oh yeah, how?”?

“My wife has a good job with the Red Cross.”

Kenny nods approvingly and Hazel hides a slight smile, pleased that one of Kenny’s acquaintances is married.?“Well, I’ve got to be moving on,” Bert says. “I’m looking to score some weed.” But as he turns to walk off, Bert looks over his shoulder and, glancing at Hazel, says, “You look great, Kenny. ?Let’s keep in touch.” Then he turns to leave.?

“Hey man,” Kenny says passing Bert a piece of paper, “here’s my phone number. If your connection doesn’t work out, I can help you out.”

“Really,” Bert says feigning surprise, “I might just give you a call.” Then, pleased with himself, the undercover agent disappears into the crowd. After leaving the conference, Kenny is also pleased. He found ten customers.

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Later, Bert meets Dick Hepland at the CRIP youth center. But before Bert can report his successful connection with Kenny, Hepland makes a somber announcement. “The situation is worse than we imagined,” he declares.

“How is that?” Bert asks.

“Not only are the Panthers signing up fifty to a hundred members a week here in L.A.” Mustapha Kemal glares at Bert, “but they have announced that the Black Panther Party and SNCC are amalgamating into one organization.”

“At the national level,” Dick Hepland continues, “H. Rap Brown has been named the Panthers’ Minister of Justice and Stokely Carmichael, has been named, Prime Minister, and the number two man of the entire Black Panther Party.”

“What does that mean to us?” Bert asks. The young LAPD cop still has no appreciation for the scope of the conflict existing between the FBI and the emerging black power movement.

“The director fears that the Panthers will become a dominant force on every college campus in America.” Dick Hepland replies.. “He expects us to do something about it.”

Bert feels the icy stares of both the FBI agent and the black militant turned upon him. “So, Officer MacAble, what have you to report?” Dick Hepland asks.

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Bert waits a couple of weeks before making the call. “Say man, this is Bert.”

“Bert, who?”

“You know, Bert ___ Egg!”

“Oh yeah, what’s happening Bert?” Kenny uses Bert’s preferred name so as not to antagonize a potential customer.

“I need to score some weed.”

“Sure, come on over,” Kenny tells him.?

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From then on, Bert becomes a regular customer, getting a quarter pound of “gold” on each buy. Then, one evening, Bert makes his announcement.

“Hey man, I need to tell you something,” Bert tells Kenny.

“What’s that?” Kenny replies.?

“I work for LAPD!”

Kenny doesn’t say anything, but a feeling of panic courses through his body. There is a slight ringing in his ears that gradually becomes louder and louder until he feels that his eardrums are about to explode.

Kenny can hear Red now, berating Kenny for being such a chump. “Why do you think I taught you to always use runners?” Kenny can hear Red say. But Kenny got comfortable. He was living with Hazel and selling a lot of weed to students and staff at UCLA and. like Red had predicted, his luck ran out.

“Does this mean that I’m under arrest?” Kenny asks.

“Don’t worry,” Bert assures Kenny. “I’m not interested busting you. I’m not in narcotics. I’m in intelligence. I just need you to do me favor.”

“What kind of a favor?”?Kenny is skeptical. He knows this is worse than if Bert had been in narcotics. Narcs take payoffs and move on, Kenny tells himself. I don’t know what this cop wants.

“When you were in the Slausons, did you know Bunchy Carter?.”?

“I knew him,” Kenny says, “but not well. He was in the gang’s inner council and took over the Slausons after Big Hutch got busted.”

“Did you know Bunchy is chairman of the Black Panther Party?” Bert asks,

“Yeah, I knew it.” Kenny says. “So what?”?

Bert stares at Kenny. “I’d like you to join the Black Panther Party,” Bert says. “Join the Black Panther Party?” Kenny repeats. “What for?”?

“We just want to know what they’re up to.”

“I’m not joining the Panthers,” Kenny says. “Those dudes are serious.”?

“And so are we,” Bert retorts. Bert stares at Kenny with unblinking eyes. “I hate to put it this way,” Bert says, “but how interested are you in staying out of jail?”

Kenny knows he has no choice.

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The Black Panther Party imposes stringent party-wide membership requirements. Chapter members are required to attend regular political education classes, learn Marx and read from Chairman Mao’s “Red Book.” Also, they must attend weekly general membership meetings, memorize the ten-point Party program, and follow the Party rules. The party expects every member to train in the use firearms and learn emergency first aid. The party’s main source of revenue comes from sale of party newspapers. Every party member has a quota of newspapers they must sell. Making quota is a means of evaluating a member’s commitment. Failure to meet sales quotas means probation for an otherwise good party member. But consistently failing to meet quota means expulsion. It takes weeks before most recruits meet party membership requirements; it takes months to become a regular member in good standing. Even after becoming a full-fledged Panther, party discipline causes some to drop out. Gang members with limited reading ability and even less interest in learning survival techniques are the first to leave the Party.

When Kenny applies for membership in the Black Panther Party, he must put a lot of energy into learning the rules, meeting the requirements and selling newspapers. Actually. Kenny dumps the newspapers and pays the party dues from his own pocket ___ or from what LAPD pays snitches. Once he becomes a regular Panther member, Kenny gives Bert regular reports and things seem normal once more. Being a Panther is like being a Slauson.

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“The merger between Panthers and SNCC is not going well,” Kenny confides?to Bert one evening. “The plan was for SNCC to provide the Panthers with organizational and administrative structure and the Panthers to provide manpower and enthusiasm to SNCC.”

“What is happening?” Bert asks.

“The SNCC people come from the historically black colleges. They’re elitists without any management or people skills. It’s causing problems.”

“What kind of problems?”

“SNCC treats the Panther rank and file like college fraternity pledges.”

Bert laughs. He remembers crossing the burning sands during fraternity pledge week when he was at L.A. State.

“Stokely Carmichael is distant and arrogant,” Kenny continues. “And the other SNCC leaders mimic the way Carmichael behaves. The SNCC cadres refuse to wear the Panther uniform, preferring to wear dashikis instead. They look more like CRIPs and members of Ron Karenga’s ?United Slaves organization.”

“You’d better not call them United Slaves to their face,” Bert warns.

“Yeah! Yeah! I know,” Kenny says. “But that’s what the Panthers call them.”

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When Bert reports to Kemal and Hedland, Kemal frowns and bristles with anger. “I’ll show them some ‘United Slaves,’” Mustafa roars. Staring at Kemal, Bert decides he doesn’t like Dick Hepland’s CRIP youth leader. Possibly it’s because Mustapha Kemal is originally from Oakland. Like most of those born in L.A., Bert thinks of Oakland as a ‘hick town.’ “On a couple of occasions,” Bert continues his report, “when the party leaders met together, here in LA,?Stockley Carmichael started talking his elitist crap and David Hilliard had to keep Bobby Hutton from ‘jumping on’ Carmichael.”

“That is interesting,” Hepland says.

“The word is that “Little” Bobby Hutton has permission to teach Stokely Carmichael some party discipline.”

“We’ll have to take care of that,” Hepland remarks.

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Sometime later, Bobby Hutton and Eldridge Cleaver are trapped by the Oakland Police. Bobby Hutton is shot dead. Eldridge Cleaver meekly surrenders. After leaving the Black Panther Party, Eldridge Cleaver, like Stockley Carmichael, a West Indian, joins the Republican Party and runs against Ron Dellums for Congress. Bert does not exaggerate the animosity between the Panthers and SNCC. If anything, the relationship between the two organizations is worse than reported. SNCC cadres continually provoke the Panthers. In Los Angeles, Bunchy Carter threatens SNCC cadres with Black Panther Party discipline, L.A. style.

“Who do those niggers think they are?” a veteran Panther and former gang member asks Bunchy. “The only thing they’ve ever done is beg the white folk’s permission to register black voters and shout out “Black Power” for the white press.”

Dick Hepland closes his eyes during Bert’s report. Now he opens them. “The director will be interested to learn about this,” he muses. “but tell me more about this Bunchy Carter.”

“Bunchy is an old-style gang leader.” Bert replies. “He takes control because he’s tougher than everyone else.”

“He’s not respected as a leader”

“Bunchy ran Angela Davis out of a Panther party meeting,” Bert comments. “Then she joined the Communist Party.”

“I heard the Panthers were angry about the way Angela Davis got Jonathan Jackson killed trying to free his brother, George Jackson,” Kemal says.

“True, but we take care of our own,” Dick Hepland laughs. Then turning back to Bert, he says, “Tell me more about, Bunchy Carter.”

“Bunchy introduces himself saying, ‘I’m Bunchy Carter, Chairman of the Black Panther Party, the Reincarnation of Genghis Khan and Mayor of the Ghetto.”

“Who follows this Bunchy?” Hepland asks.

“Former gang members,” Bert says. “Slausons, Businessmen, Rabble Rousers, even Farmers. Bunchy recruits former of Viet Nam veterans with combat experience. His local Minister of Justice is an ex-marine, named Geronimo Pratt.”

“This Bunchy Carter ain’t that tough,” Kemal growls. “Me and Jumbo will meet with him.”

“I’ll let you know what the director decides,” Dick Hepland says.

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****

“Brothers and Sisters,” shouts a stranger who barges unannounced into a meeting of the Black Congress, “we are in a state of emergency.”

The speaker wears a black leather jacket, black pants, a powder-blue shirt and a black beret, the uniform of the Black Panther Party. His name is Earl Anthony. “Brother Huey P. Newton, Minister of Defense of the Black Panther Party has been taken hostage by the pigs.”

“Brother, we would love to hear more about your problems and, uh, your Minister of Defense,” the chairman of the Black Congress executive committee says, “but we have an agenda to follow. Perhaps we can ?schedule you on our agenda for next week.” The chairman is Ron Karenga, leader of what is considered the most militant black organization in California, US. Ron Karenga who insists that his followers ___ and anyone else he can intimidate ___ call him Maulana, is the self-appointed permanent chairman of the executive board of the Black Congress, a confederation of black community organizations. ?The Black Congress meets weekly in a ramshackle building on the corner of Broadway and Florence to discuss the economic, social, and political forces oppressing the Black community. Though it discusses issues of general concern like cutbacks in welfare services and police killings. ?the Congress achieves its influence by supporting black politicians seeking various political offices. The Congress votes to support various issues, and decides how to raise money and get legal assistance from white liberals organizations like the ACLU and the National Lawyers Guild.

“Brother Karenga,” Elaine Brown, a representative of the Black Alliance, speaks out, “I would like to hear the rest of the Brother’s presentation.”

Karenga bristles at Brown’s challenge to his authority, but, reluctantly, allows the Anthony to continue pleading his case. “I’m gonna teach that bitch and these Panthers whose boss around here,” Karenga hisses in an aside to one of henchmen in a stage whisper loud enough to intimidate others within earshot. ?

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Some weeks later, just as the weekly Black Congress executive board meeting was to begin, fifty members of US surround the Congress building. Armed with shotguns and pistols, wearing dashikis, shaved heads and dark glasses. With military precision, Karenga’s bald-headed clones parade Inside the meeting room, and line the walls with weapons raised. Karenga glares at each one of the Black Congress executive committee members as if to say: “Obey or die!” But instead Karenga shouts out: “I understand that some people want to criticize US. I understand that some do not believe that I am the Maulana.”

Franklin Alexander, the head of the DuBois Club, a fledgling communist party front organization, dives under the table, shaking with fear. On the other hand, John Floyd, Black Panther Party representative, retrieves his briefcase containing his gun. Everyone else remains frozen in their seats. The is silent.

Looking about the room to gauge whether or not the membership is sufficiently intimidated, Karenga continues, “If you Brothers will not deal with me politically, then you can deal with me militarily.”

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After his show of force, Karenga resumes his seat at the head of the table. In the following Black Congress meetings, few of any of Karenga’s decisions are challenged again. Black Panther representatives John Floyd and Earl Anthony remain silent. But the hostility between US and the Black Panther Party is not resolved. Months later, the Black Congress distributes leaflets around black Los Angeles, inviting the residents to come together on a Sunday afternoon in a spirit of struggle for a poetry reading. Featured poets include Clyde Halisi of US, the well-known Watts Poets, Quincy Troupe, Ojenke, Stanley Crouch and Elaine Brown. On the day of the event, the Black Congress auditorium is packed with three hundred attendees. The affair is spirited and lively. The readings by the many artists are punctuated by an ongoing dialogue about the black struggle. US is on its best behavior even when Black Panther Party representatives, John Floyd and Ayuko Babu, read their poems. After two hours of “blowing,” everyone seems satisfied, everyone is “black,” and the event is about to wrap up on a note of unity and solidarity.

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Suddenly the great double doors of the auditorium are flung open and the outlines the great shoulders of Alprentice “Bunchy” Carter ___ broadened by his Soledad Prison workouts ____ stride down the aisle, accompanied by his own personal bodyguard, Wilbur Terry, and twenty of the fiercest black men imaginable, all recently released from California’s most notorious state prisons. Bunchy goes up to the stage, where all the celebrity poets are assembled. His men, with the exception of Terry, take their positions in front of the stage and alongside the wall. Some, wear leather gloves, have sawed-off shotguns pressed to their thighs. Bunchy’s Panthers wear black berets cocked to the side and pistols harnessed in shoulder holsters.

“No one invited us,” Bunchy announces to the crowd, stunned into silence. “That’s alright. But we thought we’d come anyway.”

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Rumors have been circulating in the community for weeks that Bunchy was back and was bringing his militant gang back to Los Angeles. While doing a four-year prison term in California’s tough Soledad Prison, Bunchy, becomes a devotee of Malcolm X and in a well-publicized event Bunchy escorts Betty Shabazz, Malcolm X’s widow, from the San Francisco Airport to an interview with Eldridge Cleaver for Ramparts Magazine. Afterwards escorted by an ?armed Black Panther escort, Bunchy meets with Huey Newton and joins the Black Panther Party.

“I’ve come to get involved with the Black Congress,” Bunchy says. “I hear that your black organizations are doing a fine job articulating the problems that black people are facing from white people. But I’ve never heard of a revolution without guns.” The former Slauson gang leader surveys the hushed audience. “But now, I’ve got a couple of poems that I want to share.” With that Bunchy Carter recites three poems one of which is the confrontational, “Niggertown.”?After his reading, Bunchy says, “Thank you for letting me blow, but I didn’t come here to recite poetry.” Bunchy searches out some of the bald-headed, dark glasses-wearing Karenga clones seated in the audience. “I came to make an announcement. The Southern California Chapter of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense has officially been formed.”

“Right on!” shouts the members of Bunchy’s entourage lining the walls.

“I came here to make it clear to everyone that we are the Black Panther Party, and there is but one Black Panther Party and that Black Panther Party is headed by Huey P. Newton, Minister of Defense. Ain’t that right, John Floyd?” Bunchy leaves the podium and walks down the aisle to where John Floyd and Ayuko Babu sit. “I said ain’t that right, John Floyd.” Bunchy Carter stares menacingly at the former leader of the Black Panther Party. but

John Floyd, the erstwhile Black Panther, remains silent. “There’s only one Black Panther Party. I don’t want to hear about no one using our name again unless authorized by the Central Committee of the Black Panther Party. Is that clear, John Floyd?”?

John Floyd says nothing and after giving John Floyd a final menacing look, Bunchy Carter turns on his heels and returns to the podium. Snapping his fingers, one of his men comes to the podium and hands over a rolled-up poster of Huey Newton seated in a high back rattan chair wearing a black beret and black leather jacket. holding a rifle in one hand and a spear in the other.

“This is Huey P. Newton, the leader of the Black Panther Party For Self-Defense, the vanguard party for the revolution in the United States. The Black Panther Party is declaring all-out war. Nobody will speak of Black Power or revolution unless they are willing to follow the vanguard and pick up a gun and be willing to die in the struggle!”

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Bunchy Carter’s declaration of war is eagerly answered by law enforcement. Cops all over Southern California mark the Southern California Black Panther Party for extermination. In an all-out war, LAPD, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, the California Highway Patrol and the FBI. launch bloody attacks on the Black Panther Party members whenever an opportunity becomes available. Heavily armed assault squads raid party members homes as well as party offices. Panthers are subjected to random street arrests on trumped-up charges including jaywalking and littering.

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Tommy Lewis is an orphan living on LA’s streets. Tommy who never even learns to read. become a party member, when Steve Bartholomew helps Tommy memorize the Party’s regulations. On August 5, 1968, police kill Tommy Lewis and Steve Bartholomew on Adams Boulevard. The next day, police kill Robert Lawrence in Watts. Though Bunchy Carter’s war on law enforcement begins as a one-sided affair, it becomes worse for the Panthers when Ron Karenga’s Cointelpro goons, working out of the CRIP youth center, begin their own murderous attack on Panther ?

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“Sit down, Shermont!” Bunchy Carter orders the Panther Party’s deputy chairman as he strides into the Panther general membership meeting. The leader of the Southern California Black Panthers is accompanied his ‘grey wolves, a band of former gang members. All of the wolves are armed; Frank Diggs, known as Franco, carries a Thompson submachine gun. Shermont Banks who was discussing the need to increase newspaper sales, plops down into one of the front row seats.

“I want to know what simple-minded, low-life, ignorant nigger defaced Karenga’s picture!” Bunchy looks over the assembled Panther membership.

The Black Congress provides offices for its member organizations. A large picture of Maulana Ron Karenga hangs on the door the US office. ?Across Karenga’s picture someone had scrawled: “MAMA LLAMA IS A PUNK.” Everyone in the Black Congress office building assumes that one of the Panthers did it.

“If one of you niggers did it ___ or one of you niggers knows who did it,” Bunchy shots, “and you don’t step up right now, when I do find you, you will be dealt with. DO YOU NIGGERS UNDERSTAND ME?”

A quiet “Right On!” ripples through the membership.?

“I got wolves, niggers!” Bunchy shouts. “I got wolves foaming at the mouth, begging me to kill someone.” The Party chairman looks around the room. “I have to hold them back. I keep them locked up. I’m telling you niggers, don’t make me unleash these wolves.”

“No, Bunchy!” the members say.

“Now I want to know who caused Karenga’s bald-headed clones to come to my house, armed to the teeth, to threatening me and my woman. Calling me out. Why? Because some silly motherfucker, probably in this room, wrote some shit across that bald-headed fool’s picture.”

Members begin to twitch in their seats. This is some serious shit! they tell themselves. Nobody knows what Bunchy and his wolves are planning to do.

“Do you niggers understand what I’m asking?”

“Right on!” comes a tentative response.

“If we have a conflict with a black organization,” Bunchy says, “we settle our differences non antagonistically. Whatever Karenga is about, he is not our enemy. Is that understood?”

“Yes!” comes a more enthusiastic response.

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Less than a month later, the police corner Frank Diggs, the captain of Bunchy’s ‘grey wolves.’ Franco dies in a hail of bullets not far from the campus of Long Beach State College where Ron Karenga becomes chairman of the Black Studies Department.?In September 1968, with the cops gunning down Panther all over southern California, Bunchy Carter, John Huggins, Geronimo Pratt and Elaine Brown register as students in UCLA’s “high potential” program. Shermont Banks is expelled from the party and John Huggins becomes Bunchy Carter’s deputy chairman. Bunchy gives John Huggins the responsibility for organizing UCLA’s Black Student Union. Hazel is one of the first students to join UCLA’s Black Student Union.

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Episode Six

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The University of California, Los Angeles, nestles just northwest of Beverly Hills in the suburb of Westwood. The campus is overpopulated with every type of building conceivable. There are multi-floored office buildings and multi-storied parking structures. There are squat centers, elegant libraries, art deco theaters and ornate auditoriums. The campus houses classroom buildings, science laboratories, research institutes and a medical center with its own cluster of hospitals libraries, office buildings and parking structures. UCLA has every type of athletic facility imaginable, except a football stadium ___ which is why UCLA plays its home games in Pasadena’s Rose Bowl. UCLA’s buildings are separated by groves of stately trees, well-tended gardens, manicured lawns with foot paths and walkways leading in all directions. Student and faculty commons are found in separate parts of the campus.

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Roads, streets and thoroughfares make UCLS’s automobile traffic the worse congested anywhere. Everyday traffic, squeezed between Sunset Boulevard on the north and Wilshire Boulevard on the south, turns the campus into what appears to be a slow-moving parking lot. Hordes of pedestrians dart back and forth between every type of vehicle imaginable. The congestion of buildings and traffic gives UCLA the sprawling character that is typical of Los Angeles, itself.

The campus is some distance from Hazel’s South-Central apartment and Kenny drives her to the campus and back. Today he waits in his car, at the usual place by the faculty center on Hilgarde Avenue to take her home. Kenny begins to tire of playing chauffeur. Commuting to UCLA using public transportation meant Hazel had to be at the bus stop by 5:30 AM to get to her 8:00 AM class. When Kenny takes her to Westwood, Hazel misses fewer morning study sessions and lectures. When Kenny complains about chaffering her to class, Hazel suggests they move into an apartment on the westside, possibly in Westwood, ?close to the campus. “It’ll cut down on driving time,” she argues. But Kenny wants to stay in South Central.

Waiting for Hazel to get out of class, Kenny ponders his life as a marijuana dealer, Black Panther Party member and a police snitch. This can’t last very long, he tells himself. Something’s got to change before my luck runs out, completely. The Panthers always have him on call. Pick up this; take them there; meet them here. It’s worse than being in Red’s crew. The Panthers are all over the place, Riverside, San Diego, Ventura. As one of the few members with a car, Kenny is always being called to drive someone somewhere on Panther business. And whenever he takes anyone, anywhere, Kenny must tell Bert. Suddenly, in the middle of his thoughts, there’s a frantic knocking at the car window. It’s Hazel; she’s loaded with books and shouting to him to unlock the door.

“Why do you always make me stand outside, like some fool, while you decide to open the door?” Hazel asks, after plopping into the front seat ___ her eyes flashing with anger.

Kenny just shrugs. He always keeps his car’s doors locked, especially when he’s parked. It’s his way of keeping as much luck as he can on his side. He pulls from the curb and heads towards Wilshire Boulevard.

“John called a BSU meeting for 5 PM and I want go,” Hazel announces,

“What’s it about?” Kenny asks.

“The Chancellor announced that he is putting Charles Thomas in charge of the proposed Black Studies program.”

“Who’s Charles Thomas?”

“I don’t know,” Hazel snaps, still angry about having to wait outside of the car, “but Bunchy, John and some others are not happy.”

“No?”

“No! Thomas was recommended by Mustapha Kemal.” Hazel’s eye flash as if they are on fire. “He’s probably one of those United Slaves.” Hazel hates Karenga and US. Like most of the women in the Black Power movement, Hazel knows that Karenga served time for torturing and murdering black women and hates him for it. “Its four o’clock now; let’s get something to eat at the Village. Then you can take me to the meeting.”

“Okay,” Kenny agrees.

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From the time that Vice Chancellor Charles Young announces his decision to implement a black studies program, UCLA seethes with tension. The Black Student Union bristles over being excluded from the planning of the curriculum and the selection of the leadership. They believe rumored that the chancellor is consulting with black students who don’t even attend UCLA ___ members of US. Bunchy Carter and John Huggins demand that Chancellor Young meet with UCLA’s Black Student Union.

“We want some say about how the Black Studies department will be organized,” Bunchy tells Young’s representative. “And our demands are non-negotiable because our lives are non-negotiable.”

“What will the BSU will do if the chancellor proceeds with his plans without meeting with the BSU?” Bert asks Kenny.

Kenny only shrugs. “The situation is unstable,” Kenny says. “John and Geronimo are packing heat.”

With the Christmas break, the chancellor and his administration hope that tempers will cool and that the January, 1969 quarter will bring calm. Their hopes are in vain.?

“We have been informed that Huggins has called for a BSU meeting for all of UCLA’s black students to vote whether to support the proposed Black Studies department chairman,” Agent Hepland announces at another CRIP youth center meeting.

“We’ll take care of that,” Kemal sneers, speaking in the high-pitched voice that makes him appear hysterical. But Kemal’s hysteria ?is not in his voice, but in his intention to carrying out the FBI ultimate Cointelpro goal of annihilating the Southern California Chapter of the Black Panther Party.

“I don’t think LAPD will be very happy with a gun battle on UCLA’s campus,” Bert comments.

“Do you want these gangsters to take over the university?” Hepland snaps.

“The Panthers are going to be out in force and they will be armed,” Bert replies quietly. “A lot of innocent people are going to get hurt.”

“The director has decided that both the chairman of the Southern California Panthers and the president of the Black Students Union must be eliminated,” Hepland reiterates. “These are the director’s orders to Dad Bilbo and these are Dad Bilbo’s instructions to me.”

“Possibly it should be done at another time, somewhere off campus.” Bert suggests.

“Another time!” Kemal shouts. “There is no other time. The time is now!”

Agent Hepland pauses to consider Bert’s suggestion. “Possibly Officer MacAble has a point,” the FBI agent says. “We can arrange for another meeting, Mustapha, at a time when fewer students will be present. What do you think?”

“It’s already a done deal,” Kemal replies.

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“When I asked the representative of Chancellor Young for the names of the black students participating in planning of the proposed Black Studies Department,” Bunchy Carter announces at the BSU meeting, “he tells me and John that the student representatives are George Stiner and his brother, Larry. Both are Karenga’s fools and meet at the CRIP student center.”

“I propose that the BSU reject Vice Chancellor Charles Young proposal for a Black Studies Department,” John Huggins proposes. The BSU votes unanimously to reject the Vice Chancellor Charles Young’s proposal.

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After the meeting, the US students, George and Larry Stiner approach Bunchy Carter and John Huggins.

“Mustapha says we should meet and work things out between us,” George says. “He says that you and he got no beef.”

,“Mustapha says that you two met before,” Larry continues, “and everything was cool. Isn’t that right?”

“Yeah, that’s right,” Bunchy grins. The gang leader is used to everyone showing him respect, even the dread founder of US and his Simba Wachuka henchmen. “Yeah, man! Me and Kemal can work something out.”

“Mustapha suggests that you come down to the CRIP youth center for a meeting,” George Stiner smiles. “You can bring John and whoever else you want.”

“That won’t work for us,” Bunchy replies. “Let’s meet here on campus.”

“I’ll take your message back to Mustapha,” Stiner says. He’s grinning from ear to ear. “We’ll get back with you.”

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Kenny picks up Hazel after the meeting. This time he sees her coming down the street and opens the door as she approaches.

“How did the meeting go?” Kenny asks.

“It went great,” Hazel says sliding into the front seat. “We voted down the United Slave proposal. Would you believe it? The chancellor’s been meeting with them all along.”

“He’s been meeting with the BSU?” Kenny asks, maneuvering through the evening campus traffic, no less congested than during the day.

“No!” Hazel snaps. “He’s been meeting with the United Slaves. And we voted his proposal down flat. Now he has to meet with us.” Hazel fiddles with the radio.

“When will he do that?” Kenny asks.

“I don’t know. First Mustapha and Bunchy are going to try to work out their differences.”

“Just the two of them?”?

“Anyone from the BSU can be involved,” Hazel says. “I’d like to be there.”?

“I don’t think you should go,” Kenny says.?

“Why not!”?

“Just trust me,” Kenny replies. “Where the cops and the FBI are involved, with US and the Panthers, you don’t want to be.”

“Okay, I won’t go,” Hazel says, matter of factly. “They’re planning the meeting for next week and I have a lot of reading to do, anyway .”

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The following week, Bunchy Carter, John Huggins, and Elaine Brown meet with Larry and George Stiner, Donald Hawkins, Harold “Tuwala” Jones and Claude “Chuchessa” Hubert to work out the differences between US and the BSU over UCLA’s proposed Black Studies Department. Mustapha Kemal and Jumbo are expected at the meeting, but failed to show up. The meeting is held in Campbell Hall’s small dining room. Campbell Hall is the home of UCLA’s linguistics department. After the two sides wrangle for a while, it is agreed that little can be accomplished without Mustapha present and the meeting breaks up. As the students begin filing out, John Huggins and Tuwala Jones get into a scuffle. No one knows how it starts, but when Huggins is on the floor, the 21-year-old Claude Hubert, a member of US, pulls a gun and shoots John Huggins in the back, severing his spinal cord and killing him instantly. Bunchy Carter recognizes the situation and tries to take cover. But it’s too late. Hubert completes his mission by shooting the Southern California leader of the Black Panther Party through the chest. Gurgling on the blood flooding into his lungs, Bunchy dies minutes after hitting the dining room floor.

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Following the killings of Bunchy Carter and John Huggins, the brothers, George and Larry Stiner, and Donald Hawkins turn themselves into the police. They are convicted on two counts of second-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder. The Stiner brothers both receive life sentences and Hawkins serves time in California’s Youth Authority Detention Center. The shooter, Claude Hubert, disappears completely.

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The violence does not end at UCLA. Panther Ronald Freeman is shot by US while selling Black Panther Party newspapers on Santa Barbara Boulevard. Panther, John Savage, is killed by US in San Diego. US kills four more Panthers and seriously wounds another over the next two weeks. Elaine Brown declares publicly that the United Slaves, headquartered at the CRIP youth center, are an anti-Panther death squad formed by the FBI.

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*****

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“He’s a danger to you, your family and our entire operation,” Agent Hepland tells Bert. “This Kenny Kiley and the woman he lives with need to be eliminated, now.”

Bert notices the self-satisfied smirk on the white man’s face. This white boy likes seeing blacks killing blacks, Bert tells, himself. Dick won’t hesitate having me killed, when the time comes. But Bert can’t think about that now, wondering when he began taking their side. It isn’t as if Bert has gone soft. He is a police officer, sworn to protect and serve. And Kenny is a criminal. Who knows how many lives he’s ruined peddling his drugs? Bert asks ?himself. Probably hundreds of young kids.

But, for whatever reason, the FBI wants Kenny dead.

“Look, you do it,” Dad Bilbo tells Bert directly, “or Kemal’s people will. Either way, that nigger’s got to go.”

The southerner’s stinging use of the ‘N’ word jolts the black police officer and FBI stooge like a slap in the face. It’s the first time that Bert realizes that no matter what he believes or what he does, to the white folks, he’s just another nigger. He’s expected to serve them until they don’t need him anymore. Bert is just beginning to realize how it feels to be a nigger in the white man’s world. The realization makes him shudder ___ as if awaking from a dream and finding himself living a nightmare ___ one of his own making.?I’m not having anything to do with Kenny’s murder, Bert finally decides. Lately, Bert begins attending mass with his wife. For some reason, he doesn’t hate black people as he once did. No, Bert decides, I will not have Kenny’s death on my conscience.

“Isn’t there another way?” Bert asks Dad Bilbo directly.

“If you can find a way to Wilshire Boulevard’s approval,” the

Cointelpro chief agrees, “then, okay. But whatever happens, I want him to disappear, permanently.”

Bilbo makes a mental note of Bert’s squeamishness. This darkie can’t be trusted, he thinks. One day I’ll have to get rid of him.

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“Look, Kenny, you and me are homeboys, right?” Bert pleads. “The FBI and cops are targeting every Panther they can find. You need to get out of L.A., man. There’s a hit list and your name is on it.”

“Where can I go?” Kenny asks. “I ain’t got no money and I don’t have any family anywhere.”

“My people tell me that if you agree to enlist in the army, they’ll leave you alone.”

“Enlist in the army!” Kenny exclaims. “That’s my only choice? Go to Viet Nam and get shot or stay in L.A. and get shot?”

“I’m afraid that’s it!”?

“How much time do I have?”

“Not much!”

When Kenny tells Hazel, she is missing him already. Somehow, she has known this day would come and Hazel also knows that she will never love anyone as much as she loves Kenny.

“Before you leave, you must give me something,” Hazel says, hypnotizing Kenny with her eyes.

“What is it you want?”

“Your child.”

To Be Continued...

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Copyright ? Eugene Stovall (2019)

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