Black Guerrilla Family
The Black Guerrilla Family (BGF, also known as the Black Gorilla Family,[6][7] the Black Family,[8] the Black Vanguard,[9] and Jamaa[8]) is an African American black power prison gang, street gang, and political organization founded in 1966 by George Jackson, George "Big Jake" Lewis, and W.L. Nolen while they were incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison in Marin County, California.[10]
Founded
1966[1]
San Quentin State Prison, California, United States[2]
1966–present
Drug trafficking, burglary and homicide[1]
History[edit]
Fay Stender attempted murder[edit]
In 1979, former BGF lawyer Fay Stender was shot five times by recently paroled Black Guerrilla Family member Edward Glenn Brooks for Stender's alleged betrayal of George Jackson. Brooks forced Stender to state: "I, Fay Stender, admit I betrayed George Jackson and the prison movement when they needed me most" just before he shot her.[15] Stender was left paralyzed below the waist by the assault and in constant pain. She committed suicide in Hong Kong shortly after she testified against Brooks.[16] Brooks was sentenced to 17 years' imprisonment for Stender's attempted murder in 1980.[17]
Huey P. Newton murder[edit]
On August 22, 1989, co-founder and leader of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, Huey P. Newton was fatally shot outside 1456 9th St. in West Oakland by 25-year-old Black Guerrilla Family member Tyrone Robinson.[18] Relations between Newton and factions within the Black Guerrilla Family had been strained for nearly two decades. Many former Black Panthers who became BGF members in jail were disenchanted with Newton for his perceived abandonment of imprisoned Black Panther Party members. In his book, Shadow of the Panther, Hugh Pearson alleges that Newton was addicted to crack cocaine, and his extortion of local BGF drug dealers to obtain free drugs added to their animosity.[19]
Robinson was convicted of the murder in August 1991 and sentenced to 32 years for the crime.[20]