Episode
"Run to Death or Walk to Life" - A Conversation with Black Panther Party and BLA Veterans, JAMAL JOSEPH & ASHANTI ALSTON | BLACK PANTHER SPEAKS
- Published
- Apr 4, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 6216
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Summary
What does it mean to become a revolutionary as a teenager—and live long enough to reflect on it? In this episode of The Dugout , we sit down with Panther veterans Jamal Joseph and Ashanti Alston for a rare, intergenerational conversation on struggle, survival, and political transformation. Both joined the Black Panther Party as teenagers—15 and 17—shaped by the political urgency of their time: rebellion in the streets, the assassination of Malcolm X, and the global fight for Black liberation. ------------------------------------- Guests Ashanti Omowali Alston is a writer, speaker, and member of the steering committee of the Jericho Movement, which advocates for U.S. political prisoners. Born in Plainfield, NJ in 1954, he joined the BPP at 17 before moving into the Black Liberation Army. His years in prison sparked a deep political evolution away from hierarchical organization and toward Black Anarchism — a philosophy he has spent decades developing and teaching. His forthcoming book, Anarchist Panther , is out August 2026. Jamal Joseph grew up in the Bronx and joined the Panthers at 15. He was one of the Panther 21 — activists arrested in 1969 on conspiracy charges and ultimately acquitted. After serving time in Leavenworth, he transformed prison time into education and creative work, earning two degrees and writing plays. He is now a Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia University and the first Black chair of its Graduate Film Division, as well as founder of IMPACT Repertory Theatre in Harlem. He has been nominated for both an Oscar and an Emmy. Books Discussed Anarchist Panther by Ashanti Omowali Alston (August 2026) Panther Baby by Jamal Joseph Find these books on our affiliate Bookshop list for THE DUGOUT: https://bookshop.org/lists/what-we-re-reading-at-…