Today on the show, we honor the revolutionary legacy of Bobby Seale — cofounder of the Black Panther Party — as the City of Oakland marks his 89th birthday with an official proclamation of “Bobby Seale Day” and a commemorative street renaming. We spoke with Bobby Seale about the history and legacy of the Panthers and his relationship with Huey P. Newton.

Seale, born in Liberty, Texas, moved with his family to the Bay Area as a child, first settling in Albany’s Codornices Village before making North Oakland’s 57th Street his home. It was from this community that Seale helped launch one of the most influential social and political movements of the 20th century — the Black Panther Party — which reshaped the fight for racial justice, community empowerment, and self-determination.

In addition to his work as an organizer and activist, Seale also ran for mayor of Oakland in 1973, signaling a new vision for political leadership rooted in the people’s needs.

This evening, the City of Oakland will host a community block party to commemorate the official renaming of the intersection at 57th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way as Bobby Seale Way. The celebration will bring together family, friends, and generations of activists to reflect on his lasting impact.

Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.

“Bobby Seale” by Peizes is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

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