Political prisoner emphasizes importance of dissent and resistance
Britta Moline
Issue date: 3/9/10 Section: News
?Former Black Panther Dhoruba Bin Wahad says he is an unapologetic political radical. When he spoke at Hamline last Tuesday, he was firm that change cannot come from within the system. Instead, he argued, it must come from political dissidents on the outside. ?
?Bin Wahad claims to be such a dissident. In addition to work with the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army, he was also once a political prisoner. He is now an author and continues to be an activist. ? ?
His appearance in Sundin Music Hall was sponsored by law students on campus and around the area. ?
?Bin Wahad's most recently made headlines during after an informal debate with Congressman Keith Ellison on Feb. 28 at the Walker Community United Methodist Church. Ellison challenged what he believed to be Bin Wahad's "pessimism and cynicism." Bin Wahad responded, saying America rarely confronts its systemic problems and prejudices. ? ?
Bin Wahad encouraged attendees in Sundin to see themselves as politically-important, as people with power. ? ?
"Whatever discipline that you are training yourself in, you should try to employ and use that discipline to the betterment of humanity and society, and not the empowerment and continuity of the elites." Bin Wahad said in an interview. ? ?
The issue of political repression and rebellion is part of a complicated history and cannot be divorced from its context, Bin Wahad said. He explained that every major political figure, from former President Richard Nixon to President Barack Obama, has been a product of the moment. ?
?"History does create men and women," he said. "But men and women make history." ?
?Understanding social history is important for an informed population, Bin Wahad said. He traced the social history of America through oppression and said former president Nixon represented the shift in America to democratic facism. ?
?"One of the things we really should try to understand is we are living in a historical moment," he said. "When you are in a historical moment, it's very difficult to understand the moment you are in." ? ?
?Bin Wahad claims to be such a dissident. In addition to work with the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army, he was also once a political prisoner. He is now an author and continues to be an activist. ? ?
His appearance in Sundin Music Hall was sponsored by law students on campus and around the area. ?
?Bin Wahad's most recently made headlines during after an informal debate with Congressman Keith Ellison on Feb. 28 at the Walker Community United Methodist Church. Ellison challenged what he believed to be Bin Wahad's "pessimism and cynicism." Bin Wahad responded, saying America rarely confronts its systemic problems and prejudices. ? ?
Bin Wahad encouraged attendees in Sundin to see themselves as politically-important, as people with power. ? ?
"Whatever discipline that you are training yourself in, you should try to employ and use that discipline to the betterment of humanity and society, and not the empowerment and continuity of the elites." Bin Wahad said in an interview. ? ?
The issue of political repression and rebellion is part of a complicated history and cannot be divorced from its context, Bin Wahad said. He explained that every major political figure, from former President Richard Nixon to President Barack Obama, has been a product of the moment. ?
?"History does create men and women," he said. "But men and women make history." ?
?Understanding social history is important for an informed population, Bin Wahad said. He traced the social history of America through oppression and said former president Nixon represented the shift in America to democratic facism. ?
?"One of the things we really should try to understand is we are living in a historical moment," he said. "When you are in a historical moment, it's very difficult to understand the moment you are in." ? ?
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