The Gang of Four. Bob Santos
Four Leaders. Four Communities. One Friendship.
By Bob Santos and Gary Iwamoto
© 2015 Chin Music Press
Publication of The Gang of Four is made possible through the generous support of
The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, located in Auburn, Washington.
©2015 by Chin Music Press
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Chin Music Press
1501 Pike Place #329
Seattle, WA 98101
www.chinmusicpress.com
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data is available.
Written by Bob Santos and Gary Iwamoto
Edited by Elaine Ikoma Ko
Designed by Zeus Design
Website by Sean Muliro
Printed and bound in the USA
ISBN# 978-1-6340595-3-4
Bob Santos, Bernie Whitebear, Larry Gossett, and Roberto Maestas. Photo courtesy UIATF
Preface by Bob Santos ii
About Co-Author Gary Iwamoto iii Introduction by Larry Gossett iv
Foreword by Doug Chin v
PART I: Early Life: Love and Survival
Chapter 1 Bob Santos - Life in the Early Chinatown Days 2
Chapter 2 “I am Filipino” and Filipino Bunkhouses 5
Chapter 3 Early Pursuit of the American Dream 6
Chapter 4 Bernie Whitebear - A Proud Family 8
Chapter 5 Tents, Chandeliers and “Siwash” 12
Chapter 6 Bernie Meets His Mentor 14
Chapter 7 Roberto Maestas - Humble New Mexican Roots 16
Chapter 8 A Natural Leader 21
Chapter 9 On His Own 23 Chapter 10 Larry Gossett - Slavery, Segregation, and Education 25
Chapter 11 Nelmon: “Go to School” 28
PART II: Political Leadership Emerges
Chapter 12 The Nation Shakes 31
Chapter 13 Bernie, Buffalo Chips and Indian Fishing Rights 32
Chapter 14 Bob Holding Up The Banner 33
Chapter 15 Black Power 34
Chapter 16 Demands and Jail 37
Chapter 17 Roberto - Teacher to Activist 39
PART III: Paths Cross
Chapter 18 Early Beginnings 42
Chapter 19 Tyree and United Construction Workers Association 43
Chapter 20 United Farm Workers 47
Chapter 21 Fort Lawton 48
Chapter 22 Seeds of Unity Planted 52
PART IV: Agencies at Ground Zero
Chapter 23 El Centro de la Raza 56
Chapter 24 International District Improvement Association 58
Chapter 25 United Indians of All Tribes Foundation 61
Chapter 26 Central Area Motivation Program 62
PART V: Gang of Four Comes of Age
Chapter 27 Comrades and Camaraderie 64
Chapter 28 Unity In...Comedy 66
Chapter 29 Gang of Four Inspires Others 68
Chapter 30 Full Circle 71
Epilogue 74
Acknowledgements 75
About Book Sponsor 77
In Their Honor 78
Index 80
i
by Bob Santos
Co-Author & Gang of Four Member
This is a story of how an American Indian, African American, Mexican American, and Asian American came together to form a powerful political alliance. We became known as Seattle’s Gang of Four--Roberto Maestas, Bernie Whitebear, Larry Gossett and myself.
In the late sixties, I witnessed progressive movements beginning to emerge - around employment discrimination, equal education, exclusionary private “whites-only” clubs, and neighborhood preservation. The continuing unpopular war in Vietnam gave rise to a locally active anti-war movement.
The struggles faced by Native American fishermen, prevented from fishing on their traditional tribal fishing grounds in the rivers and open waters, led to the Indian Fishing Rights Movement. The fight for the Native Americans’ right to fish in Washington waters began with the leadership of Bob Satiacum, a Puyallup Native American and fisherman by trade. Satiacum met Bernie Whitebear, a young inland Native American, and inspired Bernie to join the Indian Fishing Rights Movement.
Satiacum, Whitebear, other Native American leaders such as Billy Frank, Jr. and Al Bridges gained support from prominent national figures such as Marlon Brando, Jane Fonda, Buffy St. Marie and Dick Gregory. They helped bring the struggle for Indian fishing rights to national prominence on the evening news. Bernie’s involvement in the fishing rights struggle was just the start of a lifetime of activism, serving the needs of urban Native Americans.
Larry Gossett, while a young VISTA volunteer, was assigned to serve in Harlem, New York. He learned the art of organizing and followed the writings and teachings of Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael, which called for pride in the black power movement. Working in Harlem served as an awakening of Larry’s political consciousness.
Upon his return to Seattle, Larry met with Elmer and Aaron Dixon (two brothers who started the local chapter of the Black Panther Party), E.J. Brisker, Carl Miller, Eddie Walker, Richard Brown, and Cathy Halley and together they formed the Black Student Union (BSU) at the University of Wasington (UW). In 1967, the BSU, under Larry’s leadership, occupied the offices of University President Charles Odegaard, to force the administration to include African American studies and to hire more Black faculty members on staff. It wouldn’t be the last time that Larry was involved in occupying buildings and offices in service to the community.
Roberto Maestas, a young teacher fresh out of UW, was an interested bystander when Larry Gossett and the BSU occupied Franklin High School. The BSU occupation at Franklin had a profound effect on Roberto. The demands made for a curriculum that included historical