Episode 392: Lawyers, Guns, and Tummies: Tribal Thumb Pt. 1
Jul 16, 2024
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Matt from Left in the Bay podcast joins to discuss Tribal Thumb, a 1970s radical group. They explore connections to Manson Family, SLA, and California's Prisoners Movement, delving into black radicalism, Watts Rebellion, Black Panther Party, George Jackson, and California prisons. The episode also covers lumpen proletariat in political organizing, origins of Papa Roach, Vacaville Medical Facility history, and Jessica Mitford's Communist background.
The prisoners' movement in 1970s California evolved from non-political to revolutionary demands tied to labor and production.
George Jackson's imprisonment led to the formation of the Soledad Brothers, triggered by the controversial Soledad Incident in 1970.
The San Quentin prison strike of August 1970 initiated a shift towards unionizing, demanding political prisoners' release, and addressing capitalist exploitation within prisons.
Deep dives
Development of Prisoners Movement at San Quentin
In 1968, the Convict Unity Holiday at San Quentin didn't have overtly political or revolutionary demands, but by the end of 1970 and into 1971, the demands from prisoners became explicitly political and revolutionary, tying themselves to labor and production. The shift in demands and engagement with revolutionary ideas signal the development of the prisoners' movement.
George Jackson's Influence on the Prisoners Movement
George Jackson, a key figure in the prisoners' movement, becomes an organic prison intellectual after being arrested at 18 for a petty crime. Spending time in solitary confinement, George forms alliances with other inmates, including W.L. Nolan, James Carr, and Bill Christmas, organizing around incidents of violence against black inmates. Heading to Soledad in 1969, George and Nolan participate in a radical reading group, laying the foundation for more organized prisoner resistance.
Soledad Incident and the Birth of the Soledad Brothers
The Soledad Incident on January 13, 1970, where three black inmates, including Jackson's mentor W.L. Nolan, are shot dead by a prison guard, leads to the creation of the 'Soledad Brothers.' The controversial incident, allegedly involving a mistaken identity killing targeted at a Black Panther Party member, sparks further unrest among inmates. This incident forms the basis for the birth of the 'Soledad Brothers' and intensifies resistance within the prison.
Impact of the Struggles on Prisoner Unity
The struggles and incidents at San Quentin and Soledad, including the Convict Unity Holiday, Soledad Incident, and the emergence of the Soledad Brothers, mark a period where prisoners' demands shifted towards political and revolutionary goals. The unity and resistance displayed by inmates in the face of violent incidents and unjust treatment by guards set the stage for a more organized and politically charged prisoners' movement in the early 1970s.
Tumultuous Events Surrounding George Jackson and Jonathan Jackson
George Jackson's incarceration at San Quentin following a high-profile incident led to a sequence of tumultuous events, including his brother Jonathan's hostage-taking at the Marin County Hall of Justice. This incident resulted in the deaths of the judge and Jonathan Jackson, propelling Angela Davis into fame as her guns were used. The release of George Jackson's 'Soledad Brothers' book shed light on his prison experiences, highlighting the harsh realities of solitary confinement and the systemic issues within the prison system.
Shift in Prison Movement Rhetoric and Formation of United Prisoners Union
The San Quentin prison strike in August 1970, following the Marin County incident, marked a shift in the prison movement towards unionizing and addressing capitalist exploitation within prisons. The strike emphasized demands for political prisoners' release, including the Soledad brothers, and applying the Geneva Convention to American political prisoners. This strike catalyzed the formation of the California Prisoners Union, later the United Prisoners Union, with diverse demands encompassing both reform and revolutionary principles, fueled by a complex interplay between moderate and radical elements within the movement.
We’re joined by Matt & Matt from Left in the Bay to talk about Tribal Thumb, an obscure 1970s radical group in the Bay Area with eerie parallels to the Manson Family & the SLA. We start by laying out the history of the Prisoners Movement in California and the radical ferment of the 1960s & '70s.
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