Description

Waddell was 16 years old in 1968 when a friend who was already a party member recruited him. The Black Panthers, he said, helped to monitor police behavior and "empower people from within the community to help make people safe." He stayed in the party in San Diego until 1970 because what he really liked about the Panthers was that they not only fed children but also collected donations of clothes and money for them. He also distributed the Panthers' newspaper, which became the Free Press. He was in the group around Eldridge Cleaver and met Bobby Seale. Waddell played basketball at San Diego State University in 1978-1980 but tore ligaments and had to quit. He says that the Panthers' office and people in it were attacked by police. He mentions a "riot" in Mountain View Park after an arrest that was thought to be unfounded. Waddell moved to Arizona, then returned to California and got a degree from Santa Barbara City College. He mentions pride in the Black Panther Party and feels good about restarting the programs for feeding children and helping people get jobs. These interviews were inspired by the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Black Panther Party in 2016.