-20 Pa.C.S.A. Section 6304-

Survivors' Rights. Black Panthers co-founder Bobby Seale spoke today to a gathering of students at the University. For much of the time he wasn't a particularly striking speaker; for much of the time his speaking voice is a trifle dulled around the edges, trailing off, turning around on a different flow.

The vocal panther within him straightens our spines on two occasions; first, when he is reliving a poignant memory of the past through the archtypical lingo of the sixties. Second, when he talks about co-founder Huey Newton.

Seale tells the story behind the division of labor in the organization, the coin-toss that made him chairman, and Huey the minister of defense. He tells us how he made Huey promise they wouldn't split like Malcom X and Elijah Muhammed. Time and time again, he portrays Huey as a follower, a sidekick. His legal amanuensis.

Without delving too deep into Seale's psyche, I can, without any great authority, hypothesize.

A non-suicidal person can envy death, and so, too, does Seale envy Huey's blaze of glory. Memories that strengthen spines pain him. It hurts to look out upon so many respectful, but uncomprehending young faces, nearly 40 years after his greatest relevance. Not so different from the unhappiness of the surviving members of the Weather Underground, interviewed in a recent film I saw in lieu of the Superbowl. Revolutionaries are difficult to satisfy.

Seale opened his address with this ante-anticlimax:

"Well, it doesn't look like I'll be able to get to Philadelphia tomorrow. Probably have to wait another day here."

This is far better, I suppose, than feigning "Hello, STEEL CITY!" enthusiasm.

Survivors' Rights.