Most black conservatives have no constituency within the black community and are widely hated by blacks for supporting a reactionary, anti-civil rights administration.

But I do agree this rhetoric is completely over the top. Some black conservatives may be opportunistic scumballs, but they are not Uncle Toms, and some, like Colin Powell, are among the most honorable people around. (Many blacks I know give Powell a pass because they think he's a positive influence from within, so there's definitely a double standard there.)

By the way, this is nothing compared to the sort of abuse Jews like my wife get when they voice support for a binational state in Israel. Self-hating Jews, yak, yak, yak. The intolerance, religious bigotry, and rising racism within the American Jewish community is far worse than anything in the black community.

"Oh, I think I understand what's going on. See, if you are a person of color AND conservative, then clearly your race can be used against you, because heaven forbid you not follow the stereotypical party-line of interest group liberalism."

Since when did Colin Powell and Condi Rice become "conservative?"

That's a laugher right there. Most "conservatives" I've read have been tearing Powell especially a new a-hole for over two years now.

And, my comments had nothing whatsoever to do with Dawn's dumbass point.

I criticized Powell because he ISN'T conservartive, disagrees strongly with Bush on the Iraq war, and yet is acting in an uncprincipalled, and subservient way to give that very policy he dislikes CREDIBILITY.

So, please spare me your disingenuous racially conscious "outrage," and straw man bullshit.

M'kay?

Wow Mike, I am pleased (if not shocked)by your response. I almost mentioned the double standards in the Jewish community, but since everyone knows that I am a self-hating Jew, I figured it was pointless.

Thanks for the comment. Oh, and screw Hesiod (it seems that part of my post was lost in translation).

Hesiod, first of all using the phrase "m'kay" is the virtual equivalent to admitting that you are a huge bonehead. M'KAY?

Now that we have that clear, Sir Hesiod Dicklesswonder, my point was neither dumbass, nor are you correct in your assertion about Condi and Powell not being "conservatives".

Did you just arrive from outerspace or having you been circling Uranus for too long? It's pretty clear that while neither individual (Condi or Powell) tows the partyline on everything, their basic political views could easily be described as conservative.

Just admit it, you are a DUMBASS who stepped over the line. Hardly a new thing for you, you little nitwit.

Just admit it, you are a DUMBASS who stepped over the line. Hardly a new thing for you, you little nitwit.

ahhhh...now THAT'S the dawn we all know and love!

Mommy's BACK, and she's feeling her oats. Give 'em hell!

I agree there are some liberal racists in the blogosphere. (I kind of coined the phrase around here in regard to Natasha Chart, Lisa English and their band of hypocrites when they attacked my blog) but political status is not what leads people like that to abuse minorities. It is a core belief, also found in conservative racists, that there are 'good' blacks (or Asians, Indians or Hispanics) and 'bad' ones. Good blacks never challenge or out perform white people at anything. (Well, scratch that. Basketball and singing are allowable for blacks, Catholicism for browns and drinking for Native Americans. Asians can have buddy status as long as they don't get bright ideas about being the boss instead.) Any sense of challenge from a 'darkie' will result in an effort at a grand smack down from racists and the weak people who cling to them like lice. The person being out of his or her place is the key, not the politics of anyone involved.

I would also again refer people to Derrick Bell's Rules of Racial Standing. He analyzed and predicted how these situations work out years ago.

Does that mean I have any respect for most nonwhite conservatives? No. Too many of them exist to play the 'good black' (or Hispanic, or Asian or Indian) role. Often, they are created by far Right whites for that purpose. The 'good' black is needed to try to counter the voices of people who are authentic and to reassure white people they aren't being racist when they are.

This is all rather complex because race is one of the most awful demarcators in America and the world. However, I have been discussing these issues at my civil rights blog for ten months and will continue, despite the people to tell me to: "Shut up, bitch!" I do not know my place.

Oh, I forgot to mention the poster of Con Girl. I think it is pretty funny.

Eric wrote a couple defenses of that daft British broadcaster who assailed Muslims as an inferior race. He said the West needed to bring its values to Iraq. (The Great White Father and Gunga Din ride again.) Isn't Condi just helping do that?

Alright, I'm a dumbass. Oh, wait, that wasn't directed at me, was it? Well that doesn't change anything.

It bothers me when one person attempts to speak for a huge group (race, sexual orientation, gender, age, whatever) as if he or she represents the entire group. Have you ever hit the roadblock in a discussion with a minority about a minority-related issue only to have that person say something like, "You're not black, you can't understand, and you can't speak to the topic as an outsider?" It is difficult to get past this type of assertion in attempting to have a logical debate because it is not entirely based on logic. To be sure there are many things about being this minority or that minority that I do not understand at an emotional level, and I have in the past been off the mark because of this--there are certainly things that you notice as a minority that might not be readily evident to those outside of your group. But say one is arguing with Colin Powell, and he says that he speaks for all black people. It's possible that he represents the majority on a particular issue, but that would need to be verified somehow. One cannot just step up and assume all others of a similar racial background (or other group identity) are in line with him or her.

I get nervous, then, when people of a certain group assume that a powerful person, just because he or she is of a similar background, will represent the majority within that minority. I suppose that this is the price that you can expect to pay for being a successful, powerful minority. But do we have a right to expect it of these people? No (we do have a right to expect them to further a cause of peace and compassion, and when they fall short of representing people/the majority/the masses, then we have a legitimate gripe). I don't consider myself in line with the majority on a lot of issues, and I don't feel that I should be condemned for going against the mainstream (for example, I don't conform to the Americans-think-Saddam-was-behind-9/11 type of thinking. I'm in the minority for this). Remember that Thoreau quote: "Any man more right than his neighbors constitutes a majority
of one already." I respect a person's right to dissent--such respect is a fundamental virtue of our country.

I dislike Colin Powell for selling out--not for selling out his racial group, but for selling out the American people as a whole. I feel that he, as a member of the Bush Administration, represents an evil, irreverent agenda that is jeopardizing the people of the world (the agenda is represented here in his own writing--be sure to read between the lines). For me, his race has nothing to do with it. But I'm not a minority, and I wouldn't understand.

Yes! Dirt is zooming in on another aspect of this. The poster of Condi attacks her mainly for her role in the invasion of Iraq. I don't believe whoever thought of it would fail to attack any member of the Bush administration involved in foreign policy for that. The something extra is that it makes fun of her role as an outsider trying to be inside. Years ago, there was a commercial in which a little girl with a Southern accent was baking with her Mom. At the end of it, she said, "And I helped!" There is the same kind of tag along, proud to be with the big guys, quality to Con Girl's role in the Bush administration. It is also being made fun of.

I suppose the 'helping whitey' language can be criticized as over the top. She is helping whitey, but a specific group of whities - the powerful Right Wing elite. The assumption that all white people support those whities is not well-founded. Perhaps 'helping Bushies' would be more accurate, but it does not pack the same punch.

Dirt's point about missing some of the context if you aren't a minority or don't know minorities is also apropos. (I get the feeling Mike spends enough time around people of color to be 'honorary,' so he probably sees this, too.) I grew up hearing some older African-Americans and Indians carry on about how 'their' white folks were so good to them. The praise would be because Miz June gave her maid a washed-out dress or Mr. Jack decided his handyman could come in the front door when other white people weren't around. Part of the psychology of oppression is to admire the people doing the oppressing. (You must read Jamaica Kincaid in regard to the colonialized mind if you haven't.) From my perspective, Condi Rice has some of that in her.

This just in, 'murricans are still insular, uniformed, loud and proud, and not afraid to let everybody know it no matter how little sense it makes.

I thought this was a joke, but after reading Dawn's shit-fit (about what I'm not sure, and really can't be bothered to find out).

By the way how's the search to find Condi a man going?

By the way, you do know they pardoned Lenny Bruce, right?

Carruthers, don't hold out for Condi. Women in the know say her 'guys' look good in dresses.

Which raises another sort of related issue. In the interest of honesty, perhaps Ms. Rice should acknowledge she is one of the most prominent of gay Americans.

(Buck up, Jim. Wipe away that tear.)

Mac Diva:

Fascinating that you don't think that liberal black leaders aren't "created" and "used" by white liberals for THEIR own purposes. And what of the black folk in the Clinton administration who helped implement his tough on crime and welfare reform policies, which (when Republicans do it) is referred to as "a war on black America"? And by the way ... Clinton invaded Kosovo, bombed Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, etc. ... while Jesse Jackson (his African envoy), Ron Brown, Carol Moseley Braun, Eric Holder, Raines, Alexis Herman, Hazel O'Leary, and a bunch of other high ranking black officials (all generally kept out of sight unless they were going to be on BET or in Ebony/Jet at which time it was OK for Clinton to allow himself to be photographed with him) either going along with it or helping him. Yet, not you or any of the other folk who are so quick to call black conservatives race traitors apply the same standard to black liberals and Democrats. If anything, the black Democrats are WORSE, because they DO (allegedly) represent a constituency and they OPPOSED those conservative policies. At least Condi Rice, Gerald Reynolds, Larry Thompson, and the like agree with Bush. Eric Holder opposes the death penalty and the war on drugs but did Clinton's bidding in the Justice Department anyway. So, who's worse? And the blacks who castigated Reagan and Bush for ignoring Africa ... where were they on that Rwanda, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Uganda, etc. thing? Randall Robinson? Is Randall Robinson still in the house? Funny how Randall Robinson waited until a Republican was in the White House to decide that reparations was a major issue. Sorry, but I see no evidence that the black leadership cares about anything other than running their little fiefdoms ... and keeping the white people who allow them to have those fiefdoms happy. Don't be coy ... you know that tomorrow those liberal whites can stop drawing those little majority - minority districts, and the Ford Foundation can stop giving all that money to the NAACP and those other "black" civil rights organizations that black folks don't financially support anymore ... heck black folk don't even support the United Negro College Fund. Most of Bill Gray's fundraising came from wealthy whites (and some of them Republicans like George Bush and Bob Dole). If that happens, then GUESS WHAT ... no more black leadership! And to think that these folk allege that black CONSERVATIVES are created by white people ...

WARNING: SATIRE ALERT

Whoa, Bill! Letting Diva have it with both barrels. Let me save her aching fingers an extra workout by answering for her/NAACP/Jesse/Harry Belafonte. Relax, baby girl, ol' Al has this one:

Bill, have you stopped murdering black people yet? You are obviously a racist slaver white supremicist. Comment 13 above proves that you hate black people and would support the re-institution of slavery- as do Condi and Colin, as evidenced by their intimate submission to the Evil Racist Bush Brain Trust.

Mr. Carthon, you may as well give up your neo-Confederate oppression of the darker people. We're all on to you, whitey.

This has been just a test of the Satire Broadcast System. If this had been an actual race riot, we'da been picking off marauders of whatever hue with extreme prejudice off the back porch.

I would not say that to a poor fellow who has not yet discovered the use of the paragraph symbol, Barger. Instead, I would try to arrange a date with Condi for him.

Seriously, his remarks are too trite and baseless to be rile worthy. They are the sort of thing I ignore.

I think my comments in No. 10 are the most relevant ones I've made on this thread. In short, yes, the poster is an attack on Con Girl. But, it attacks her, a public official, mainly because of wrong she has done in her official capacity. That is acceptable. The only part I can find fault with is the 'whitey' remark being over the top, though very effective.

It's quite evident - and has been for a long time - that the slogan of the left is:

"We respect all sexualities! All religions! All races! All views on morality!"

[pause]

"So long as the aforementioned coincide with our political agenda."

Oh HELL no, oh my Diva- this Carthon bastard ain't going to get away with disagreeing with and thereby disrespecting you and therefore all people of color like this. I got your back.

Submit, Carthon! Take off your Klan hood and stop your White Supremicizing.

Mac,

Did you really say in not so many words that a conservative minority is someone you would never like?

Man, does that seem WRONG on so many levels. Please tell me I misunderstood, because to me that is just as backwards as racism itself.

I know plenty of fiscally conservative, socially moderate and tough on terrorism minorities (yes, I pretty much like EVERYONE 'cept that doofus Hesiod) and they are just as "black and hip" as the next Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson.

One's political views should have no real bearing on whether I would "like" them. I might not VOTE for them, but we could still be pals.

Mac Diva:

You won't get away THAT EASILY. One who has shown proclivities towards profane language and punctuation and spelling errors in her own posts shouldn't cast stones. As far as a date with Condi ... you must have me confused with Berkeley Breathed's Opus character.

The real reason why you won't respond is that you cannot. Current black leaders are the creation of and/or are wholly owned the white left. The white left puts the black leadership in power, and the black leadership shills for them. When the white left believes that a black leader is no longer useful to them, they get rid of you.

Remember Ben Chavis of the NAACP? When he made overtures to Louis Farrakhan, it was ALL OF A SUDDEN discovered that he was corrupt. FORMER Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney of Atlanta? When Georgia Democrats wanted to make sure that they would pick up another Congressional seat, they drew her a district. But when she started saying stuff like "Al Gore discriminates against black people", they altered her district, gave millions to a "moderate" black female and unseated her.

I know that it may be so hard for you to accept, that is why you ignore me. But face it, you have no black leadership, only puppets of the white left. People who NEED white Democrats to keep them in power and white donors to pay their salaries. But you just stay in your dreamworld, your personal little Matrix or whatever. I remember after Clinton marginalized and humiliated Jesse Jackson, Mike Espy stated publicly before the cameras "who cares about Jesse Jackson? Jesse Jackson isn't black America! The best interests of black America is for the Clinton administration to succeed, and if Jesse Jackson isn't willing to help the Clinton administration to succeed, then the black community needs to move on without him!" A couple of years later, Bill Clinton FIRED Mike Espy. Oh well ...

Er -

Not to get into the middle of a good knock-down brawl here, but it seems to me that both Carthon and Diva prove too much by their arguments. In other words, both seemingly assume that minority politicians are nothing more than puppets of the party to which they belong (at least as concerns minority members of what I assume is the opposing party).

Were either right, arguably the other would be as well. It remains my assumption that much like white folks can differ on all sorts of things, so can members of minority groups (especially given that race, while genetically determined, doesn't necessarily categorically determine everything about how one might perceive reality).

What brawl? That 'un? Nah. He will have to pull himself up by his punctuation to reach the Diva.

Bill, I do not believe most black pols and public figures are 'run' my anybody. I believe that just a small minority -- on the Right -- are. There is an old tradition of that in regions with large black and Hispanic populations. The Anglo 'patrons' ran things and had their chosen voices for the people of color. Often, they used ministers in that role. An example from Dawn's Amazon list would be Jesse Lee Peterson. But for his far Right funded attacks on another Jesse no one would ever have heard of him.

The difference between a Peterson and a Jackson is that the latter is authentic. He has been a participant in the civil rights movement since his youth. His views are in step with those of most people of color. A Peterson, on the other hand, is just a pimple on the arse of the Negro.

Jesse Jackson represents all the things that blacks and whites expect from a liberal black leader with no real agenda except that of his own selfish needs.

He is a self serving, morally corrupt, attention hog. Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs is a better role model for young black people than Jesse Jackson ever was.

I think any person who creates a standard and forms a reasonable belief system and then adheres to those standards and beliefs is a good role model. Jesse is just performing the "role" that people expect from him with no real commitment to it. He is like every other politician, BLACK or WHITE, corrupt in every sense of the word.

Why can't blacks be conservative/Libertarian without liberals attacking them personally with these viel and bigoted comments? I mean, as a white male, I have NEVER thrown racial slurs at white liberals. For example, black conservatives, like Larry Elder, Jesse Lee Peterson, or Clarence Thomas, are called 'race traitors' or 'a puppet for the white man' or 'uncle toms', all because they don't agree with affirmative action, multiculturaldiversity, etc...

I have never EVER referred to whites, who disagree with me on racial issues, as 'nigger lovers' or a 'traitor to the white race' or 'a puppet for the black man'

It's an ugly double-standard that I hope will fade as blacks continue to enter the mainstream and diversify. The assumption that skin color=political viewpoint is insulting and bigoted.

Who knew Colin Powell was black?!

Man, next thing ya know, they'll be telling me OJ Simpson is black!

Go figure.

Actually, Powell -- who would be just as vile, whatever his hue -- looks to me to be beige, and Simpson -- ditto -- appears brown in color.

Between the two, (Powell and Simpson), Natalie chooses to call Powell the "vile" one. Interesting, but not surprising.

Nice presentation Dawn. It's good to see you "think outside the box". Although, I would hardly call this face of racism new. Nor would I conclude that "It's no secret that liberals traditionally have championed the dignity of minorities and their right to equal treatment, and for that they should be thanked and saluted."

Conservatives are far more invested in minority success in a truly dignified, and an honest and equal way. Liberals get paid for minority failure. Their message of insurmountable minority victimhood, along with undignified handouts, and unequal and truly divisive affirmative action programs is what enslaves minorities. It keeps them (liberals) in power though. Jesse Lee Peterson explains this phenomenon extensively, and as well or better than any white person can or is allowed to.

Since the light is on, momentarily at least, and we're discussing our number one societal neurosis, ie. racial double standards, ie. the three ton pachyderm crapping on the oriental rug, consider this: Jesse Jackson, the "authentic" civil rights movement participant and fornicating psychopath, admitted on a televised "60 minutes" interview that he had occasionally spit into the food of unsuspecting white patrons at a South Carolina restaurant where he was once employed and entrusted. Think about that for a moment. Did you know it? Can you imagine what would happen if someone like Rush Limbaugh admitted to such a disgusting, depraved expression of racial hostility?

Liberals make me sad for humanity.

Allow me to clarify: "Ditto" was me calling Simpson vile as well. Both caused death; both refuse to admit it. I should have written that out more clearly.

Frankly, there are good and bad people in all parts of the political spectrum. And FWIW, much of liberals' and conservatives' behavior makes me sad for humanity.

I see no end to it. I have my black friends and acquaintances. So do they. But overall, theres a persistent malignant spirit . It's sad.

It's also harming our children.When these kids grow up, after being subjected to this malignant spirit,it hampers their ability to deal without bias in a world of all kinds of people.

For instance, they are not going to be very affective human resources managers in a company that has a diverse workforce, if they allready have a chip on their shoulder. That goes for all races. Equally.

But as long as everyone has their own righteousness, based on their own gospel, and I'm not referring to the religious variety, even though it IS a religion of sorts, I see no end to it.

I think both Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are reverse racsist.

I would like to put them in a talking contest with each other seeing who could utter most crap. We could call it the "First Annual Jesse and Al Fast Talking Acronym-o-thon"...

RE:Comment# 30 "I think both Al Sharpton and Jesse
Jackson are reverse racsist".

Reverse Racism??? There is no such thing as far as
I can see. Anytime that ANYONE of any color,creed
or race is put down,denied equal opportunities and
/or stereotyped for the color of their skin would
constitute "Racism" in my book.It does not matter
which side is hurling the insults or at whom they
are being aimed.Hate is hate & racism is racism,
no matter how you look at it.

Well said, and bravo. The use of t he phrase "reverse racism" gives credence to a philosophy that deserves none -- namely, that only particular people can be "racist." Bigots come in all hues.

Dawn, I don't have too many right-wing friends. Some, yes, of course, but it's tough for a queer person to hang out with someone who is anti-GLBT. (Which is why my right-wing buds tend to be "real" conservatives; they believe the gummint should stay the hell out of my life and treat everyone equally.)

And here is a question that occurs: What in hell are "racial bona fides"?

(Keep in mind that this comes from someone who does not believe in --and finds repugnant -- the notion of "race.")

I agree H.W. I wonder if Hillary Clinton developed her bitchy vile nature while protesting with the Black Panthers in college?

They did torture and kill one of their own, Alex Rackley. Didn't they use boiling water in their torture before putting a bullet in his head?

Pretty damn hatefull if you ask me.

I was only poking fun about the talk-a thon. That would however be a hit on reality TV.

Those guys must spend hours and hours reading the dictionaries and cross referencing in their thesauruses to come up with some of that funky sounding shit. Especially Jesse Jackson.
That motherfucker could rhyme an entire speech.

Natalie,

Since I wasn't entirely clear what that meant either, I am pretty sure that Eric replaced some other word with "bona fides" when he edited this (I generally ask him to edit my BC stuff otherwise we get into huge fights over punctuation, grammar and word usage).

I looked it up and I believe what I/Eric were saying was Condi and Powell are just as sincere in their cultural ethnicity/diversity as other black leaders/people, even if their ideologies differ with say Jackson or Sharpton. They both feel they are doing their part for society, and by extension their own race.

I know you don't accept the idea of race, and that is about as noble a concept as they come, but I find that there are inherent and linear biases even among whites.

Everyone should take pride in their ethnic makeup, EVERYONE. But they should ultimately acquiesce to the most important group they belong to: the human species.

If we all treated each other as the same in that respect, then ideological differences would just be a matter of opinion, not black and white, so to speak.

I have no idea of that makes sense, but these days, my brain is kind of mushy.

"Everyone should take pride in their ethnic makeup, EVERYONE."

Why?

"Everyone should take pride in their ethnic makeup, EVERYONE."

Fine -- as long as it's the 99% Chimpanzee part.

Shark (from a long line of traveling salesmen of questionable 'ethnic' makeup)

Everyone should be ALLOWED to take pride in their ehtnic/racial/religious/whtever background regardless of political beliefs. I believe that is the point. Jesse Jackson has no more claim to the mantle of African-American heritage than do Powell, Condi or anyone else.

My question is "why not"?

Having pride in the things that make you unique is one of the best things we can do as people.

Not having pride and joy in who we are is what creates the problem. At least from my perspective.

Like I was told once by a wise man "If you don't love yourself, then you can't expect anyone else too either."

"Why not?"

Pride in one's 'ethnic makeup' is sorta like having pride in the residents of your city.

1) It's arbitrary.
2) You're not responsible for any or all of them or their actions, traits, etc.
3) It tends to view individuals as some monolithic entity, which is also pretty much what racism tends to do.
4) It's friggin' meaningless.

Pride in anyone beyond yourself, your child, or your students is pretty much an absurd, deluded masturbation.

BTW: Kudos to Natalie; I love it when a simple "Why" can show how silly some tired old monumental 'truism' is.

"Pride in your ethnic heritage" is one of those ridiculous things no one ever questions because it sounds good on the surface and tends to encourage warm fuzzies and funding grants.

BTW: If we dug deep into most of our 'ethnic' backgrounds, we might find out that most of us aren't all ____, but have a lot of _____ mixed in.

So what, as long as you don't kill your brother or marry your first cousin.

xxoo,
Shark of the Toothy Fish Tribe

Prove it, and say "suffering succotash". Three times in a row, real fast like.

Sheri

We are all made up of one or more somethings. There is nothing whatsoever wrong with celebrating our ethinic, cultural, religious, whatever roots. You are what you are whether you choose to recognize it or not - there's nothing arbitrary about it.

There is nothing... wrong with celebrating our ethnic, cultural, religious, whatever roots.

Another meaningless truism.

BTW: We've gone from "pride" and "joy" in one's "ethnic makeup" to "celebrating" our ethnic, cultural and religious roots.

How 'bout this:

We lose the pride,
keep the joy,
spread the celebrating,
-- but let's not restrict any of it to our own fucked up perception of our own fucked up race, ethnic, cultural, and religion.

Do I hear an Amen?!

Best,
Rodney ("Shark") King

I am not at all sure about this, Dawn:

I looked it up and I believe what I/Eric were saying was Condi and Powell are just as sincere in their cultural ethnicity/diversity as other black leaders/people, even if their ideologies differ with say Jackson or Sharpton. They both feel they are doing their part for society, and by extension their own race.

You people put the oy in joy. Fer crissakes aren't there more important things to argue about than the semantics of "pride", "race", "ethnic makeup" and whatnot.

Maybe this is why I don't like coming here anymore.

You people put the oy in joy. Fer crissakes aren't there more important things to argue about than the semantics of "pride", "race", "ethnic makeup" and whatnot. Maybe this is why I don't like coming here anymore.

Apparently some liberals took exception to being called "a bunch of racist, bigoted, tired old buttplugs."

Nevermind.

Yer right, tho, Dawn: this thread deserved to die on January 13.

PS: Has anyone mentioned that Colin Powell went from America's Mr. Integrity to Mr. Whore with ZERO Integrity overnight? The man should have resigned and blown the whistle on the White House long ago.

He's an opportunist pig no matter what color his skin.

After reading more of Woodward's book and seeing last night's Nightline, Colin Powell is looking more and more the opportunist. About the only insulting thing Shrub didn't do is detail him to picking up his drycleaning and running other errands. Powell has not been acting as secretary of state. He is just happy to have the opportunity to wear the title.

"The Black Panthers in college..they did torture and kill one of their own, Alex Rackley."

Yes, due to the accusations of George W. Sams, Jr., that Rackley was an informer. Sams himself, however, a violent and disturbed man who had been institutionalized, was the REAL FBI informant who had infiltrated the Black Panther Party, and participated in Rackley's torture/murder. He pled guilty, was a witness against his co-defendants, and was PARDONED four years later.
Culled from Jim Redden's "Snitch Culture", Feral House, 2000, page 184. The chapter, "COINTELPRO Abuses" lists other cases of government informers and agent provocateurs infiltrating groups, radical-militant or no, that challenged the status quo.

Doesn't excuse the behavior of the other Panthers, but I'm guessing that if it wasn't for Sams (and by extension, the FBI), Rackley might still be alive today. As Malcolm McLaren once said, "No one is innocent. But some are more guilty than others."

"The Black Panthers in college..."

Arrgh! Damn it! Committed my own worst sin, Failure To Proofread....