Comrades,
Just a note to let you
know that Wednesday Reggie suffered a major stroke. it impaired much of
his functioning, but he seems to be bouncing back to some degree, except for
the fact that he is now unable to read or make sense of words on a page or
screen. this may or may not be temporary, given how he is bouncing back
and able to carry on conversations now.
He's in California
Pacific Medical Center on Webster, in room 511 B, where he'll be for a few days
before he may be released to a care facility for as long as needed. he'd
certainly appreciate visits from friends and comrades.
keeping on,
Doug
Note from Billy X
Many of you never knew Reggie, he wrote "The Panther is a
Black Cat" published by Black Classic Press( Comrade Paul Coats Company in
B'more) and we wrote for every Black newspaper in the Bay area, Newsweek, Time.
He knew Eldridge and introduced Huey and Bobby to his close friend James
Baldwin whom he calls Jimmy, back in 1967. I have been traveling to SF every
few weeks to check on him and listen to the many stores he has about the BPP.
He has added many items to our archives. Back in 1968 when we held that Big
Rally for Huey's Birthday, he collected all the money at the box office and
made a special rubber stamp for checks. The rubber stamp read" Black
Panther Party for Self Defense". He wrote the message on the back of
Elrages album "Dig". He traveled to our international office to
cover the opening for Newsweek magazine.
He had been sick for a while, his son was a Party member working
out of the SF office back in 1968, his daughter is the top poetic in SF. I wish
him well and will go see him soon as i return to Cali. I want to thank,Kathleen
Cleaver Doug Norberg and Jeffery Blankfort for keep an eye on our
comrade whom is 84.
Billy reporting from Lisbon Portugal.