Berkeley Tribe facts for kids
Berkeley Tribe, August 15, 1969 cover
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| Type | Newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Tabloid/underground newspaper |
| Founder(s) | Lionel Haines, James A. Schreiber, Stew Albert, Hank Dankowski |
| Publisher | Red Mountain Tribe |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Ceased publication | May 1972 |
| Headquarters | Berkeley, Calif. |
| Circulation | 60,000 |
| ISSN | 0005-9188 |
The Berkeley Tribe was a weekly newspaper published in Berkeley, California. It was active from 1969 to 1972. This paper was part of the counterculture movement. It was known as an underground newspaper.
The Berkeley Tribe started after a disagreement among the staff of another paper, the Berkeley Barb. About 40 staff members left the Barb and began their own paper. They called their group Red Mountain Tribe. This new paper quickly became a key voice for the New Left movement.
The Berkeley Tribe aimed to be more focused on social change and politics than the Berkeley Barb. It became very popular, starting with 20,000 copies and reaching 60,000 copies by 1970. The Tribe was published weekly until May 1972. Like other papers of its kind, it was sold on the streets by young people. All staff members were paid with copies of the paper, which they then sold. The Tribe was also part of a network of similar papers called the Underground Press Syndicate.
Many famous artists and writers contributed to the Berkeley Tribe. These included cartoonists like Robert Crumb and Gilbert Shelton. Artists such as Stanley Mouse and Rick Griffin created covers and illustrations. Writers like Marge Piercy and William Burroughs also shared their work.
The Tribe covered many important events of its time. They reported on the protests at Alcatraz Island by Native American groups. They also covered the famous Woodstock music festival. The paper reported on the Altamont concert, which was a difficult moment for the hippie movement. They also followed trials and protests, like those involving Huey Newton.
Contents
Challenges for Underground Newspapers
Newspapers like the Berkeley Tribe often faced challenges. Staff members sometimes removed their names from the paper. This was done for safety reasons, as they knew the FBI and local police were watching them. The Berkeley Tribe's offices were attacked several times. They faced firebombs and even gunshots. Staff had to protect themselves by barricading windows with stacks of old newspapers. Other underground papers across the country faced similar dangers.
People's Park and Community Action
Before the Tribe started, students and local residents worked together to create People's Park. This was a piece of land owned by the University that the community wanted to use as a park. The Berkeley Tribe strongly supported this cause. In May 1969, people planted the park on the vacant university property. This action was about the community taking control of public spaces. It also connected to ongoing discussions about free speech.
There were violent clashes with police over the park. Many students were injured, and one student was killed. Helicopters even sprayed tear gas over the campus.
Reporting on National Unrest
The late 1960s and early 1970s were a time of great unrest in the United States. The Berkeley Tribe reported on these events. They covered riots and protests, as well as tragic events like the Kent State killings. The paper also focused on the growing opposition to the Vietnam War. Police sometimes used force against the paper's offices and staff.
How the Newspaper Was Made
The Berkeley Tribe was usually produced late at night. A small group of three editors made decisions about the paper's direction and advertising. These editors changed every six months. The paper often featured clever comments on war, civil rights, and government issues. Each issue was usually 36 to 48 pages long. About half of the paper's space was used for advertisements, which helped pay the bills.
The newspaper also published a weekly guide to drug prices. This information was shared with other underground papers. It also included cartoons by artists like Robert Crumb.
Changes and Challenges
In late 1969, the Berkeley Tribe started losing money. Some record companies stopped advertising, which meant the paper lost thousands of dollars each month. Sales also dropped significantly. This led to disagreements among the staff. Some staff members, who were more focused on culture and peace, left the paper. Other staff members wanted the paper to become more political.
The paper then started publishing messages from radical groups. This included messages from the Weather Underground. These messages were often left at the paper's office after it had been printed. More staff members left as the paper's focus became more intense.
In March 1970, the Tribe published an editorial encouraging readers to prepare for self-defense. They even started a training center for self-defense. The FBI watched their offices closely.
In the summer of 1970, the Tribe published a controversial story about an FBI agent. They also printed a guide for urban revolutionaries. These actions caused more staff members to leave. The paper's focus became very strong on political action.
Fairness and Staff Changes
In early 1970, there were disagreements among the staff about advertising. The female staff members objected to an advertisement that showed women in a disrespectful way. They felt it was unfair. As a result, many male staff members who disagreed with this view left the paper. After this, the paper became more focused on social justice issues. The unfair advertisement was rejected. Similar discussions about fairness were happening at other underground newspapers across the country.
The Red Mountain Tribe Community
Many of the Berkeley Tribe's staff lived together in a shared house, or commune, on Ashby Avenue. This house was a gathering place for many interesting people. Bands, artists, and political figures visited there. Famous people like MC5, Jean-Luc Godard, Jane Fonda, and Timothy Leary spent time at the commune.
The commune was a two-story house with a private backyard. This backyard was even used for a famous photo on one of the Tribe's covers. The house also served as a meeting point for political activists. It was also the base for a self-defense training center.
The Paper's Changing Focus
During 1970, the Berkeley Tribe became even more focused on political issues. This was due to the ongoing war in Vietnam and the assassinations of civil rights leaders. The paper published a quote from Governor Ronald Reagan on its cover. It also printed a guide for urban revolutionaries. After this, the paper published a story about an FBI agent.
These events led to more challenges for the paper. Its offices were firebombed, and shots were fired into the building. Staff had to barricade the windows. These incidents created a sense of fear and tension.
New Leadership and the End of the Paper
One controversial photo published by the Berkeley Tribe showed the scene where a police officer was killed. This led to most of the editorial staff leaving the newspaper. After this, a group of radical feminists took over the paper. Most of the production staff stayed.
The Berkeley Tribe then started publishing messages from the Weather Underground. These messages claimed responsibility for bombings and attacks in the area. As advertising revenue dropped, the paper printed fewer issues. Its circulation also declined. Over time, the news articles became more like strong opinions, but the paper still had excellent graphics. The Berkeley Tribe eventually stopped publishing in mid-1972.
Images for kids
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Berkeley Tribe, August 15, 1969 cover
