4
McCoy speaks on history of the Black Panthers
♦After the film Panther, the director of counseling discusses his involvement with the group
Ernest in the Lwik'ioom
PHOTO BY BECCA LEE
BY ALLISON STRIZAK
Staff Writer
Panther , the powerful narrative
film of Melvin Van Peeble's involve
ment in the Black Panther Party, hu
manizes an area in history shrouded by
a veil of violence and insurrection.
Last Tuesday, the psychology club
°nd the African-American cultural so
 sponsored a showing of the film,
toJowed by a discussion with director
v ; counseling Ernest McCoy concern
ing his personal involvement in the
party.
From the movement's tumultuous
beginnings in the summer of love to the
tragic destruction just a few years lat
ter, Panther helps weave a tale of the
social and political injustice which
plagued the black community and the
steps taken to end it.
With a sound-track bubbling over
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with the legends of funk, and a revo
lutionary calling heralding back to the
days when people stood up and fought
back, Panther tells the story of the
heroic efforts of men like Huey New
ton, Eldridge Cleaver, and Bobby Seale
in style. This film brings to life, in a
very powerful manner, their manifesto
of "power to the people."
Although the final outcome is
tragic, Panther helps retell a story of
intellect, action and unity—elements,
which kindled a powerful and influen
tial movement.
As McCoy explained, there were
some good sides and some bad ones
to this story.
"It was an organization that func
tioned with a lot of dysfunctions," he
said. "A lot of people got shot up, a lot
got killed."
Yet as McCoy went on to say, it
was a movement whose main direc
tive was to help protect the commu
News
nity. "People were riding by shooting
at people," he said, "and the Panther
organization said we have to put a stop
to this, so it was basically a defense pro
cess."
McCoy worked as the director of
the community action program. His work
involved helping kids get jobs and work
ing at Sing Sing prison, bringing in in
formation. He says he joined the party
because he. "enjoyed the work, meet
ing people and wearing the leather
coat."
He was 26 at the time of his en
rollment. He became involved with the
Party when, as he put it, "I heard on
the block guys standing around and talk
ing and I became interested in what they
had to say, so I said can I come to a
meeting and they said sure."
McCoy soon found he "liked the
comradery, the conversation and the
fact that someone was watching my
back."
"Let me say it wasn't a glamor
ous position or job. It was more as I've
stated —a process of defense and pro
tecting people and feeding people and
Daily: Unprogrammed worship.
8:05a.m.-8:20a.m. Hut.
Friday, February 27
Noon: GCRO Brown Bag
Lunch discussion on educational con
cerns for the hungry Hut.
7:30 pm.: Friday Fireside Wor
ship, Hindu traditions, led by Ajay and
Neelam Bhardwaj. Hut.
Sunday, March 1
9:15 a.m.: College meeting for
worship with ElginaManuel, director
of residential life. Moon Room.
7:00 p.m.: Catholic Mass. Gal
lery.
7:00 p.m.: QLSP Worship.
Moon Room.
8:00 p.m.: Student A. A. meet
ing. Hut
Monday, March 2
3:30 p.m.: GCRO Meeting. Hut.
4:00 p.m. Tea and discussion
with Ched Myers: "Activism and
Spirituality."
the week in
Campus Ministries
The GuiHordian
February 27,1998
giving some sense of pride to a group
of people who at one point had a sense
of being beaten down. The people we
defended were black and white, His
panic and Latino, people who where
down and out. It wasn't a color thing
for me, it was a people thing for me
and I liked that," stated McCoy.
McCoy is aware of the fact it was
his involvement in the Black Panther
Party and his position as the director
of the community action program along
with his work in Sing Sing prison which
helped him get clean and sober. His
sobriety allowed him to continue along
an avenue of guidance and education.
The Black Panther movement has
been heralded as one of the most pow
erful grass roots revolutions in the
United States, and McCoy does not feel
another revolution like it is possible. "I
don't think that could happen again
because the violence isn't there," he
said.
What's left are those who partici
pated in the movement, the movies that
bring their efforts to life, and the les
sons they provide for us to learn.
7:30 p.m. Public presentation
by Ched Myers: "Binding the strong
man: a political reading of Jesus."
Gallery.
8:30 p.m.: Fellowship ofChris
tian Athletes. Boren Lounge.
Tuesday, March 3
5:15 p.m.: Episcopal Eucharist.
8:30 p.m.: New Generation
Ministries. Boren Lounge.
Wednesday, March 4
5:30 p.m.: Midweek meeting
for worship. Hut.
8:30 p.m.: Inter Varsity Chris
tian Fellowship. Boren Lounge.
9:00 p.m.: Unitarian-Universal
ist students. Hut.
Thursday, March 5
Noon: Grief process group.
Hut
Friday, March 6
Spring work trips begin:
Cherochee, Goat Lady farm,
Tompkens farm and Open Door
Community.