Podcast appearances and mentions of elmer dixon

Thursday, February 27 on Urban Forum Northwest:*Dr. Lezli Baskerville, president and CEO, National Association For Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) comments on the cuts in early childhood education funds that prepare her students to excel once they are college bound. And comment on any adverse effect that the current administration's policies are having on colleges and universities that NAFEO refer students too.*Attorney Yohannes Sium represents the retired Seattle Black Firefighters seeking to retain their interest in property that they purchased in the 1970's. He will be joined by Clarence Williams, president, Northwest Association of Retired Black Firefighters and a plaintiff in the court action and Roberto Jourdan, past president, Seattle Black Firefighters Association.*Elmer Dixon, Co Founder, Seattle Black Panther Party comments on the Seattle Black Panther Party Interpretive Center. The project is divided into three phases and he will comment on phase one which is the Metropole site at 423 2nd Avenue that will include a 1500-square-foot first floor anchor site.* Barney Hilliard is a Seattle Music Legend dating back to Garfield High School in Seattle where he played saxophone in the young Dave Lewis Combo that was in heavy demand. Barney will be featured on KING 5 TV Seattle Facing Race Segment,The History of Jazz on Jackson Street on Friday, February 28 at 6:30 pm & 11:30 pm.Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant information. Like us on facebook. X@Eddie_Rye. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thursday, February 27 on Urban Forum Northwest: *Dr. Lezli Baskerville, president and CEO, National Association For Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) comments on the cuts in early childhood education funds that prepare her students to excel once they are college bound. And comment on any adverse effect that the current administration's policies are having on colleges and universities that NAFEO refer students too. *Attorney Yohannes Sium represents the retired Seattle Black Firefighters seeking to retain their interest in property that they purchased in the 1970's. He will be joined by Clarence Williams, president, Northwest Association of Retired Black Firefighters and a plaintiff in the court action and Roberto Jourdan, past president, Seattle Black Firefighters Association. *Elmer Dixon, Co Founder, Seattle Black Panther Party comments on the Seattle Black Panther Party Interpretive Center. The project is divided into three phases and he will comment on phase one which is the Metropole site at 423 2nd Avenue that will include a 1500-square-foot first floor anchor site. * Barney Hilliard is a Seattle Music Legend dating back to Garfield High School in Seattle where he played saxophone in the young Dave Lewis Combo that was in heavy demand. Barney will be featured on KING 5 TV Seattle Facing Race Segment,The History of Jazz on Jackson Street on Friday, February 28 at 6:30 pm & 11:30 pm. Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant information. Like us on facebook. X@Eddie_Rye. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thursday, February 27 on Urban Forum Northwest: *Dr. Lezli Baskerville, president and CEO, National Association For Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) comments on the cuts in early childhood education funds that prepare her students to excel once they are college bound. And comment on any adverse effect that the current administration's policies are having on colleges and universities that NAFEO refer students too. *Attorney Yohannes Sium represents the retired Seattle Black Firefighters seeking to retain their interest in property that they purchased in the 1970's. He will be joined by Clarence Williams, president, Northwest Association of Retired Black Firefighters and a plaintiff in the court action and Roberto Jourdan, past president, Seattle Black Firefighters Association. *Elmer Dixon, Co Founder, Seattle Black Panther Party comments on the Seattle Black Panther Party Interpretive Center. The project is divided into three phases and he will comment on phase one which is the Metropole site at 423 2nd Avenue that will include a 1500-square-foot first floor anchor site. * Barney Hilliard is a Seattle Music Legend dating back to Garfield High School in Seattle where he played saxophone in the young Dave Lewis Combo that was in heavy demand. Barney will be featured on KING 5 TV Seattle Facing Race Segment,The History of Jazz on Jackson Street on Friday, February 28 at 6:30 pm & 11:30 pm. Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant information. Like us on facebook. X@Eddie_Rye.

Thursday, April 25 on Urban Forum Northwest on 1150 AM KKNW/www.1150kknw.com, on Alexa and my podcast 2:00-3:00 pm (PDT) my guest for the hour are:*Congressman Gregory Meeks (D) New York-5 Ranking Member, House Foreign Relations Committee comments on the some success for the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and the Democrats in spite of the obvious chaos in the House. He also comments on the quagmire in Haiti and possible solutions for the country's political instability.*Bob Armstead, President, National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC)-Washington State Chapter comments on the programs being funded to help rebuild the infrastructure. He also questions how some companies can continue to receive state contracts funded with federal dollars that have been decertified by the states Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprise (OMWBE).*Elmer Dixon, Owner, Executive Diversity Services and a Co Founder of the Seattle Black Panther Party comments on the history of the organization, some of the programs they implemented in the late 60's and 70's. The government still funds some of the same programs today. Elmer's book, Die Standing: From Black Panther Revolutionary to Global Diversity Consultant is available on Amazon.*Chad Lawson Cooper, Executive Producer, Justice on Trial-Reloaded an Off-Broadway Play that will be on stage at Seattle's Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church, on Saturday, April 27 at 6:00 pm, Bishop Garry L. Tyson, Pastor. The play will feature individuals like the great grandson of W. E. B. Du Bois, Jeffrey Du Bois Peck. Call 206.324.6688 for ticket information.Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant information. Like us on facebook. Twitter X@Eddie_Rye. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thursday, April 25 on Urban Forum Northwest on 1150 AM KKNW/www.1150kknw.com, on Alexa and my podcast 2:00-3:00 pm (PDT) my guest for the hour are: *Congressman Gregory Meeks (D) New York-5 Ranking Member, House Foreign Relations Committee comments on the some success for the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and the Democrats in spite of the obvious chaos in the House. He also comments on the quagmire in Haiti and possible solutions for the country's political instability. *Bob Armstead, President, National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC)-Washington State Chapter comments on the programs being funded to help rebuild the infrastructure. He also questions how some companies can continue to receive state contracts funded with federal dollars that have been decertified by the states Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprise (OMWBE). *Elmer Dixon, Owner, Executive Diversity Services and a Co Founder of the Seattle Black Panther Party comments on the history of the organization, some of the programs they implemented in the late 60's and 70's. The government still funds some of the same programs today. Elmer's book, Die Standing: From Black Panther Revolutionary to Global Diversity Consultant is available on Amazon. *Chad Lawson Cooper, Executive Producer, Justice on Trial-Reloaded an Off-Broadway Play that will be on stage at Seattle's Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church, on Saturday, April 27 at 6:00 pm, Bishop Garry L. Tyson, Pastor. The play will feature individuals like the great grandson of W. E. B. Du Bois, Jeffrey Du Bois Peck. Call 206.324.6688 for ticket information. Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant information. Like us on facebook. Twitter X@Eddie_Rye.

Thursday, April 25 on Urban Forum Northwest on 1150 AM KKNW/www.1150kknw.com, on Alexa and my podcast 2:00-3:00 pm (PDT) my guest for the hour are: *Congressman Gregory Meeks (D) New York-5 Ranking Member, House Foreign Relations Committee comments on the some success for the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and the Democrats in spite of the obvious chaos in the House. He also comments on the quagmire in Haiti and possible solutions for the country's political instability. *Bob Armstead, President, National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC)-Washington State Chapter comments on the programs being funded to help rebuild the infrastructure. He also questions how some companies can continue to receive state contracts funded with federal dollars that have been decertified by the states Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprise (OMWBE). *Elmer Dixon, Owner, Executive Diversity Services and a Co Founder of the Seattle Black Panther Party comments on the history of the organization, some of the programs they implemented in the late 60's and 70's. The government still funds some of the same programs today. Elmer's book, Die Standing: From Black Panther Revolutionary to Global Diversity Consultant is available on Amazon. *Chad Lawson Cooper, Executive Producer, Justice on Trial-Reloaded an Off-Broadway Play that will be on stage at Seattle's Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church, on Saturday, April 27 at 6:00 pm, Bishop Garry L. Tyson, Pastor. The play will feature individuals like the great grandson of W. E. B. Du Bois, Jeffrey Du Bois Peck. Call 206.324.6688 for ticket information. Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant information. Like us on facebook. Twitter X@Eddie_Rye.

The Black Panther Party's Seattle chapter is drumming up new plans, more than 40 years after it disbanded.A group devoted to preserving Black Panther history plans to open a museum in Pioneer Square early next year, bringing attention to the ways the Panthers influenced Seattle then, and still do now.Seattle Times Race and Equity Reporter Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks is here to tell us about it, with some help from Elmer Dixon, a founding member of Seattle's Black Panther chapter.Read Alexandra's full piece: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/traces-of-seattles-black-panthers-are-all-around-if-you-know-where-to-look/We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the show happen by making a gift to KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattlenowAnd we want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at SeattleNowPod, or leave us feedback online: https://www.kuow.org/feedback

Rhythm & News Podcast interview with Elmer Dixon, co-founder of the Seattle Black Panther Party, discussing his new book and his hope to change the historical narrative  of the Black Panther organization. Interview by Chris B. Bennett.

Thursday, June 15 on Urban Forum Northwest: *State Representative Chipalo Street (D)-37th LD comments on his work during the last session, talks about his legislative successes and how those policies will help his constituents and citizens of the state. *Elmer Dixon, President, Executive Diversity Services comments on his book "Die Standing". He will celebrate Juneteenth on Friday, June 16 6:30-8:30 pm at Seattle's Washington Hall where he will offer a powerful reading from his new book.*LaNesha DeBardelaben, President & CEO, Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) invites you to NAAM's Juneteenth events happening for the rest of the week that will culminate with the Juneteenth Jamboree at Judkins Park on Monday, June 19.**Dr. Pela Terry, Executive Director, Atlantic Street Center invites you to the organizations 22nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 17 event being held at the Rainier Beach Community Center 11:00 am-3:00 pm. The event will be live streamed by Rainier Avenue Radio.*Jacqueline Ware of the Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action (PSARA) comments on the organizations third annual virtual Juneteenth Celebration on Tuesday, June 20 at 5:00 pm (PDT),.*Dr. Traci Harrell invites you to two events being held the same day, Thursday, June 22 at the Renton Hyatt. First, Strategic Networking & Black Business Showcase 3:00-5:00 pm. Second, Wellness, Wealth, and The Art of Transformation begins at 5:30 pm.*Ramon Bryant Braxton, Artistic Director/Conductor, Songs of Black Folk:Music of Resistance and Hope where local and national talent will be on display at Seattle's Paramount Theatre on Sunday, June 18 at 7:00 pm.Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com. Like us on facebook. Twitter@Eddie_Rye. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thursday, June 15 on Urban Forum Northwest: *State Representative Chipalo Street (D)-37th LD comments on his work during the last session, talks about his legislative successes and how those policies will help his constituents and citizens of the state.  *Elmer Dixon, President, Executive Diversity Services comments on his book "Die Standing". He will celebrate Juneteenth on Friday, June 16 6:30-8:30 pm at Seattle's Washington Hall where he will offer a powerful reading from his new book. *LaNesha DeBardelaben, President & CEO, Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) invites you to NAAM's Juneteenth events happening for the rest of the week that will culminate with the Juneteenth Jamboree at Judkins Park on Monday, June 19. **Dr. Pela Terry, Executive Director, Atlantic Street Center invites you to the organizations 22nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 17 event being held at the Rainier Beach Community Center 11:00 am-3:00 pm. The event will be live streamed by Rainier Avenue Radio. *Jacqueline Ware of the Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action (PSARA) comments on the organizations third annual virtual Juneteenth Celebration on Tuesday, June 20 at 5:00 pm (PDT), . *Dr. Traci Harrell invites you to two events being held the same day, Thursday, June 22 at the Renton Hyatt. First, Strategic Networking & Black Business Showcase 3:00-5:00 pm. Second, Wellness, Wealth, and The Art of Transformation begins at 5:30 pm. *Ramon Bryant Braxton, Artistic Director/Conductor, Songs of Black Folk:Music of Resistance and Hope where local and national talent will be on display at Seattle's Paramount Theatre on Sunday, June 18 at 7:00 pm. Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com. Like us on facebook. Twitter@Eddie_Rye.

Thursday, June 15 on Urban Forum Northwest: *State Representative Chipalo Street (D)-37th LD comments on his work during the last session, talks about his legislative successes and how those policies will help his constituents and citizens of the state. *Elmer Dixon, President, Executive Diversity Services comments on his book "Die Standing". He will celebrate Juneteenth on Friday, June 16 6:30-8:30 pm at Seattle's Washington Hall where he will offer a powerful reading from his new book. *LaNesha DeBardelaben, President & CEO, Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) invites you to NAAM's Juneteenth events happening for the rest of the week that will culminate with the Juneteenth Jamboree at Judkins Park on Monday, June 19. **Dr. Pela Terry, Executive Director, Atlantic Street Center invites you to the organizations 22nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 17 event being held at the Rainier Beach Community Center 11:00 am-3:00 pm. The event will be live streamed by Rainier Avenue Radio. *Jacqueline Ware of the Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action (PSARA) comments on the organizations third annual virtual Juneteenth Celebration on Tuesday, June 20 at 5:00 pm (PDT), . *Dr. Traci Harrell invites you to two events being held the same day, Thursday, June 22 at the Renton Hyatt. First, Strategic Networking & Black Business Showcase 3:00-5:00 pm. Second, Wellness, Wealth, and The Art of Transformation begins at 5:30 pm. *Ramon Bryant Braxton, Artistic Director/Conductor, Songs of Black Folk:Music of Resistance and Hope where local and national talent will be on display at Seattle's Paramount Theatre on Sunday, June 18 at 7:00 pm. Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Visit us at www.urbanforumnw.com. Like us on facebook. Twitter@Eddie_Rye.

To mark Black History Month, Trinity College will host a public lecture with Elmer Dixon, former Black Panther and co-founder of the Seattle Chapter of the Black Panthers. Elmer joined Sean in studio for a chat about his life...

Thursday, October 20 on Urban Forum Northwest : *Elmer Dixon, President, Executive Diversity Services, a Co Founder, Seattle Chapter of the Black Panther Party comments on one of his comrades from the Panther days, the late Garry Owens who passed away September 30. Elmer will comment from Ireland. *Larry Gossett shares his memories of his Black Panther and U W Black Student Union (BSU) days with the late Garry Owens who was an advocate for the people all of his days, including his employment with the City of Seattle. *Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz talks about his vision for the city's law enforcement agency. Comments on his efforts to reduce crime and the challenges of his under staffed department, and how he will engage the various communities in Seattle. *Reverend Harriett Walden, Founder, Mothers for Police Accountability comments on the post pandemic work of Mothers and how her organization has worked with now permanent Chief Adrian Diaz. Urban Forum Northwest streams live at www.1150kknw.com. Check us out at www.urbanforumnw.com for archived programs and relevant information. Like us on facebook. Twitter@Eddie_Rye. This program will also air on Saturday 7:00-8:00 am (PDT).

To mark Black History Month, Trinity College will host a public lecture with Elmer Dixon, former Black Panther and co-founder of the Seattle Chapter of the Black Panthers. Elmer joined Sean in studio for a chat about his life...

On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant I speak with Elmer Dixon, President of Executive Diversity Services, a Washington state-based diversity training company. Dixon’s background growing up in an unusually diverse neighborhood in Chicago uniquely positioned him for this later work and his affiliation with the Black Panther movement certainly honed his fierce determination to advocate for equity and fair treatment. Get Courageously Curious with me and listen in to this episode in which Mr. Dixon not only deepens our understanding of the Unconscious Bias problem but offers very practical steps that we can all take to advance our own growth.

0:06 - Episode Introduction1:28 - Hosts Checking In 2:09 - Jini Palmer at CHOP9:08 - Perspective of BLM King County Silent March17:47 - Conversation with Elmer Dixon41:16 - Meet Aileen Granstrom44:56 - Host Recap46:10 - Marcus Harrison Green's Crosscut Excerpt____________________________________________________________Elmer Dixon  was born in Chicago and moved to Seattle at age 7 when his father took a job at Boeing. Dixon grew up in Seattle's Central District, attending Garfield High School. While at Garfield High, Dixon helped organize the school's Black Student Union in 1968. That same year, with his older brother Aaron Dixon, he co-founded the Seattle Chapter of the Black Panther Party. He served the Chapter as its Field Marshall as well as the Breakfast Program Coordinator. When the Seattle Chapter closed its office and some of its core members moved to Oakland in 1972, Elmer, under parole and unable to move to Oakland, stayed in Seattle and reorganized the Chapter. He worked to sustain the Party's breakfast program and health clinic, maintaining the Panther organization until 1976 and some programs into the 1980s. Elmer Dixon now works as a diversity consultant.Aileen Granstrom  is a Elementary School Associate Teacher in Bellevue, as well as a dance instructor at the University of Washington.  You can find a video version Enrique's piece with Aileen Granstrom HERE   ____________________________________________________________Produced In Partnership With :Town Hall Seattle  (https://townhallseattle.org/)The South Seattle Emerald  (https://southseattleemerald.com/)_____________________________________________________________Executive Producer + Host  // Marcus Harrison GreenExecutive Producer + Host // Enrique CernaExecutive Producer + Host // Jini PalmerAdditional Production Support Provided By // Hans Anderson & JEFFSCOTTSHAWMusic Provided By // Draze "The Hood Ain't The Same" // http://www.thedrazeexperience.com/about-draze/

In this Everyday Conversation on Race, I'm joined by white ex-police officer Charles Hayes, author of the book "Blue Bias," and Elmer Dixon founder and former leader of the Seattle Black Panthers.  They share their personal histories, their work around race and their perspectives on fighting against racism in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and ensuing world-wide protests. In 1968, Elmer Dixon and his brother Aaron came to Oakland to hear Bobby Seale the chairman of the Black Panther Party speak. Right after, they decided to form a chapter of the Black Panther Party in Seattle. It was the first chapter outside of California, and lasted until 1982, making it the longest running Black Panther chapter. The medical clinic they started is still operating. Today, Elmer still works to eliminate racism, injustice and inequities in the US, as president of the Executive Diversity Services an organizational development consulting firm. Charles Hayes grew up in Oklahoma and Texas in the 1940s and 1950s. He  joined the Marines at 17,  and four years later became a police officer in Dallas. He says that that the area and the department were racist to the core. Charles burnt out after several years due to constant calls to break up situations of domestic violence. He didn't  have the maturity to understand the deeper issues affecting people in these situations. After leaving the police department he began learning about life and reading in order to educate himself. His life changed when he read a  "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," by Martin Luther King. That's when he decided to work on unraveling the racist education he got. As a consultant, Elmer had the opportunity to work with police. After leading successful programs for police in Chicago, he went on work with police in Washington,  Ireland and other cities. As a member of the Black Panther Party, which was named the Number One threat to US Security by the FBI, working with the police was a major shift in perspective for him. Key topics in this episode: • The origin, and manifestations of  police bias • The role of neuroscience, external stimuli and stressors in the development of unconscious bias amongst cops • How the police department attracts people with authoritarian personality • Deaths of unarmed Black and Brown people at the hands of police • The murders of George Floyd. Tamir Rice, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, along with the confluence of people sheltering in place, not working, struggling financially has put us at a tipping point in this country and the world • How some Black police officers internalize bias and brutalize people in the Black community • Solutions to end racist police practices • Lessons learned from the Black Panther Party for today's fight against racism, police brutality and injustice • Why a coherent vision and plan is necessary to sustain momentum and create systemic change, and what that might look like. Contact info for guests Email Charles Hayes    Autpress@Alaska.net    Email Elmer Dixon EDixon@ExecutiveDiversity.com      

Elmer Dixon was born in Chicago and moved to Seattle at age 7 when his father took a job at Boeing. Dixon grew up in Seattle’s Central District, attending Garfield High School. While at Garfield High, Dixon helped organize the school’s Black Student Union in 1968. That same year, with his older brother Aaron Dixon, he co-founded the Seattle Chapter of the Black Panther Party. He served the Chapter as its Field Marshall as well as the Breakfast Program Coordinator. When the Seattle Chapter closed its office and some of its core members moved to Oakland in 1972, Elmer, under parole and unable to move to Oakland, stayed in Seattle and reorganized the Chapter. He worked to sustain the Party’s breakfast program and health clinic, maintaining the Panther organization until 1976 and some programs into the 1980s. Elmer Dixon now works as a diversity consultant.

My guest for Episode 8 is Elmer Dixon, one of the founding members of the Seattle Chapter of the Black Panther Party. Next month marks the 50th anniversary of the Seattle Panthers, so I was incredibly honored to have the chance to interview Mr. Dixon about the party’s work in the community and as a community – and about how his experience as a Black Panther continues to inform his life today. Resources: 50th Anniversary celebration info: https://www.seattlebpp50.com/about My People Are Rising: http://mypeoplearerising.com/ *** Intro/outro music, recorded with permission: "Joe Metro," by Blue Scholars. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=Wz79goWQrYU ***

Madeline Crowley produced the Storied Seattle series, featuring residents of Seattle’s Central District, through her Jack Straw Artist Support Program residency. This excerpt features Elmer Dixon. The full pieces will be aired on Hollow Earth Radio. Read more about the project at peopleofthecentralarea.com.

Madeline Crowley produced the Storied Seattle series, featuring residents of Seattle's Central District, through her Jack Straw Artist Support Program residency. This excerpt features Elmer Dixon. The full pieces will be aired on Hollow Earth Radio. Read more about the project at peopleofthecentralarea.com.

In part two, Seattle Black Panther party co-founder Elmer Dixon talks about the party’s show of force on the steps of the state Capitol in Olympia; how the mayor refused a request from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to provide the Seattle Police Department tactical support for their planned raid of the Seattle Black Panther Party offices, which allegedly held illegal weapons; the Seattle chapter’s breakfast and healthcare programs that helped the needy; and finally, the internal conflicts and informants that led to the demise of the Black Panthers in Seattle and elsewhere in the nation.

The Black Panther Party was founded 50 years ago in Oakland, Calif. In Seattle, two young brothers, Aaron and Elmer Dixon, with others, founded the Seattle chapter of the historic organization. In a two-part interview, Elmer Dixon explains what inspired him and his older brother to join the Black Panthers, its efforts to strengthen Seattle’s Black community, their confrontations with law enforcement, the party’s eventual demise and thoughts about today’s Black Lives Matters movement.

Elmer Dixon oral history interview conducted by David P. Cline in Seattle, Washington, 2013-02-28.

When Jimi Hendrix returned to his native America as a star, the country he knew had changed. This programme, presented by Tom Robinson to tie in with the 40th anniversary of the guitarist's death, explores the pressure Jimi was under to make an explicit political declaration. Tom explores Hendrix's 14 months in the Screaming Eagles 101 Airborne Division that saw him parachute a total of 26 times before he was invalided out with a broken ankle. Brother Leon Hendrix discusses his elder bother's time in the military, along with comments from author Charles Sharr Murray. Singer and friend Eric Burdon explains how, after the riots in Grovesnor Square, Jimi trotted out the American government's party line on Vietnam - the so-called "Domino Theory". The Soft Machine supported Hendrix as they traveled across America and drummer Robert Wyatt recalls how Jimi responded to media questions about the war, and the emergence of the Black Power movement. Hendrix was receptive to the Black Panther Party and found the Seattle Chapter of the organization run by two former high school friends. Both Panthers, Aaron and Elmer Dixon talk about how receptive Hendrix was to the cause. The programme culminates with Jimi's Woodstock Festival performance of 'The Star Spangled Banner', an eloquent (and wordless) statement against the Vietnam war. In retrospect, it can also be read as a swan song for the era of peace and love and for Hendrix himself, who died in his sleep the following year. Jimi Hendrix is more than a blues guitarist who got lucky in the 60s. He did the best he could to be his own man without openly taking sides, and we are still trying to get to know him 40 years after his death. Producer: John Sugar A Sugar production for BBC Radio 4.