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Kwame Somburu, Perennial Socialist Candidate, Dies at 81 Kwame Somburu, Perennial Socialist Candidate, Dies at 81
(about 13 hours later)
Kwame Somburu, a 1960s radical who vainly sought elective office as a perennial candidate of the Socialist Workers Party in New York and California, died on May 3 in Albany. He was 81.Kwame Somburu, a 1960s radical who vainly sought elective office as a perennial candidate of the Socialist Workers Party in New York and California, died on May 3 in Albany. He was 81.
The cause was complications of kidney cancer, his son Daryl Boutelle said.The cause was complications of kidney cancer, his son Daryl Boutelle said.
Mr. Somburu evolved from a high school dropout named Paul Boutelle, who sold the Great Books of the Western World series door to door and voted for the straight Republican ticket in 1956, into a public school teacher who adopted the name of a Kenyan tribe and embraced a Trotskyite scientific socialism forged in anti-imperialism and class-conscious black nationalism.Mr. Somburu evolved from a high school dropout named Paul Boutelle, who sold the Great Books of the Western World series door to door and voted for the straight Republican ticket in 1956, into a public school teacher who adopted the name of a Kenyan tribe and embraced a Trotskyite scientific socialism forged in anti-imperialism and class-conscious black nationalism.
He renounced violence but echoed Malcolm X’s credo of gaining black power “by any means necessary”; organized blacks against the war in Vietnam; unambiguously declared that “if it weren’t for crime and lies and terrorism and massacres there’d be no United States”; and, while insisting that he was not anti-Semitic, vigorously opposed Zionism.He renounced violence but echoed Malcolm X’s credo of gaining black power “by any means necessary”; organized blacks against the war in Vietnam; unambiguously declared that “if it weren’t for crime and lies and terrorism and massacres there’d be no United States”; and, while insisting that he was not anti-Semitic, vigorously opposed Zionism.
In his first of nine campaigns for public office, he ran for the State Senate in Harlem in 1964 as a candidate of the Freedom Now Party, a branch of a fledgling all-black organization formed in Michigan. But after his defeat, he acknowledged that a black political mass movement was probably premature.In his first of nine campaigns for public office, he ran for the State Senate in Harlem in 1964 as a candidate of the Freedom Now Party, a branch of a fledgling all-black organization formed in Michigan. But after his defeat, he acknowledged that a black political mass movement was probably premature.
Instead he joined the Socialist Workers Party, which, he explained in the party’s newspaper, The Militant, “has a consistent record of engagement in independent class politics, is the Marxist organization that has developed the best analysis of black nationalism, and has been from the start a firm supporter of efforts to build an independent black political party.”Instead he joined the Socialist Workers Party, which, he explained in the party’s newspaper, The Militant, “has a consistent record of engagement in independent class politics, is the Marxist organization that has developed the best analysis of black nationalism, and has been from the start a firm supporter of efforts to build an independent black political party.”
Mr. Somburu was nominated by the party as its candidate for Manhattan borough president in 1965, for state attorney general in 1966, for vice president of the United States in 1968 and for mayor of New York in 1969.Mr. Somburu was nominated by the party as its candidate for Manhattan borough president in 1965, for state attorney general in 1966, for vice president of the United States in 1968 and for mayor of New York in 1969.
He ran for Congress once in Manhattan and twice in California, where he also campaigned to be mayor of Oakland before abandoning the party in 1983 in a policy dispute. He later joined Socialist Action and the Socialist Workers Organization.He ran for Congress once in Manhattan and twice in California, where he also campaigned to be mayor of Oakland before abandoning the party in 1983 in a policy dispute. He later joined Socialist Action and the Socialist Workers Organization.
Paul Benjamin Boutelle was born in Harlem on Oct. 13, 1934, to Anton Boutelle, a self-taught electrician, and the former Anna May Benjamin, a seamstress.Paul Benjamin Boutelle was born in Harlem on Oct. 13, 1934, to Anton Boutelle, a self-taught electrician, and the former Anna May Benjamin, a seamstress.
He said he quit the High School of Commerce when he was 16 because he was bored after being indoctrinated in “Christianity, Capitalism and Caucasianism.” He was working as a taxi driver when he ran for vice president.He said he quit the High School of Commerce when he was 16 because he was bored after being indoctrinated in “Christianity, Capitalism and Caucasianism.” He was working as a taxi driver when he ran for vice president.
During that campaign, he jousted with William F. Buckley Jr. on his television program “Firing Line.” When Mr. Buckley suggested that if he were campaigning in the South his philosophy would appeal to black voters more than Mr. Somburu’s would, Mr. Somburu responded, “I’m sure if you went down to Mississippi and told black people they were free, you would be running, and it wouldn’t be for office.” During that campaign, he jousted with William F. Buckley Jr. on his television program “Firing Line.” At one point Mr. Buckley suggested that if he, Mr. Buckley, were campaigning in the South, his philosophy would appeal to black voters more than Mr. Somburu’s would.Mr. Somburu responded, “I’m sure if you went down to Mississippi and told black people they were free, you would be running, and it wouldn’t be for office.”
He left New York in 1973 and graduated from the University of California, San Francisco, with a bachelor of arts degree in education and went on to teach in California schools. In 1979, he changed his name to Kwame Montsho Ajamu Somburu. He later moved to Massachusetts and then to New York, near Albany. Mr. Somburu left New York in 1973 and graduated from the University of California, San Francisco, with a bachelor of arts degree in education and went on to teach in California schools. He changed his name to Kwame Montsho Ajamu Somburu in 1979. He later moved to Massachusetts and then to New York, near Albany.
His marriage to Myrna Mondesire ended in divorce. In addition to their son Daryl, he is survived by another son, Asi-Yahola Somburu, from his marriage to Zakiya Somburu, who died in 2010; a stepson, Khalid Sheffield; two sisters, Elvira Boutelle and Jean Waters; two brothers, Allen Boutelle and Dr. Ronald Boutelle; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.His marriage to Myrna Mondesire ended in divorce. In addition to their son Daryl, he is survived by another son, Asi-Yahola Somburu, from his marriage to Zakiya Somburu, who died in 2010; a stepson, Khalid Sheffield; two sisters, Elvira Boutelle and Jean Waters; two brothers, Allen Boutelle and Dr. Ronald Boutelle; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.