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Why is Bobby Seale on Trial?

Poster
1970 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This poster is an example of images being recycled in various contexts of protest propaganda. The photocopied image over which the text has been printed is taken from a Cuban poster issued by Editora Politica (the publishing arm of the Communist Party) around 1969. The original context would have promoted fighting against imperialist forces. Here, that same image of a simple worker taking up arms is reinterpreted to raise awareness of Black Panther Party leader Bobby Seale's court case. He was one of the original defendants accused of conspiring to incite a riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleWhy is Bobby Seale on Trial? (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Photocopy
Brief description
Why is Bobby Seale on Trial? Black Panthers lecture poster. USA, 1970. photocopy.
Physical description
Text advertising Black Panthers lecture given on Thursday 16 April, 1970 at Yale University. Background image of the head and shoulders of a figure holding a gun, flag and rooftops in background.
Dimensions
  • At widest point, due to tears height: 21.2cm
  • At widest point, due to tears width: 27.9cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Yale 1970 (handwritten in pencil on reverse)
  • WHY IS BOBBY SEALE ON/ TRIAL?/ The Panthers Speak
  • THURS/ APRIL 16/ 4:00 PM/ ROOM 102/ OSBORN MEM. LAB./ SACHEM AND PROSPECT
Credit line
Gift of the American Friends of the V&A; Gift to the American Friends by Leslie, Judith and Gabri Schreyer and Alice Schreyer Batko
Production
image recycled from an Editora Politica Cuban poster of 1969 (possibly by Rene Mederos)
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Summary
This poster is an example of images being recycled in various contexts of protest propaganda. The photocopied image over which the text has been printed is taken from a Cuban poster issued by Editora Politica (the publishing arm of the Communist Party) around 1969. The original context would have promoted fighting against imperialist forces. Here, that same image of a simple worker taking up arms is reinterpreted to raise awareness of Black Panther Party leader Bobby Seale's court case. He was one of the original defendants accused of conspiring to incite a riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Other number
LS.1066 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number
Collection
Accession number
E.1439-2004

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Record createdAugust 4, 2004
Record URL
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