Secure ArchivesMissions

Mission Two

March 26, 1973 — March 31, 1973

Monday, March 26, 1973.

Sophie consults with Archie that maybe we should get the whole crew in here. Sophie has identified, thanks to her intelligence analysis combined with the use of an esmological prediction model, that there may be evidence of History B taint in the upcoming release of a local funk/soul musical group.

She presents to the group an article from last week’s Rolling Stone (the one with Robert Mitchum as Eddie Coyle on the cover) about local group Mansa and their bandleader, E.L. Moore. What Sophie’s use of esmology over the past week has confirmed for her is that this band has the potential to break big, perhaps not with this album, but at some point in the future, and that the band's internal “mythology” sounds an awful lot like someone has given Moore or one of the band members a glimpse of History B at some point.

The album comes out eight days from now, which means it’s already pressed and ready to ship. But the fact that there’s going to be a listening party/block party this coming weekend here in Oakland means that URIEL can at least do some investigation of what’s going on with this group before the album comes out.

COINTELPRO FILE

CARBON COPY
FBI Field Office, San Francisco

TO: DIRECTOR, FBI (100-448006)
DATE: 2/16/70
FROM: SAC SAN FRANCISCO

COUNTERINTELLIGENCE PROGRAM
BLACK NATIONALIST - HATE GROUPS
RACIAL INTELLIGENCE
BLACK PANTHER PARTY (BPP)
FILE on subject EDWARD LOUIS ("E.L.") MOORE
DOB 4/30/47

Subject MOORE was born in Oakland, California in 1947 to ARTHUR MOORE, a jazz musician and leftist fellow traveler, and CINTHIA MOORE (née JOHNSON), a jazz vocalist. Subject MOORE is an only child. He attended local Oakland schools, excelling in music from an early age. MOORE's draft status was determined 4-F in June 1965 due to a mild case of infantile paralysis (poliomyelitis). MOORE became a practicing musician and instructor upon graduation from McClymonds High School. Before 1968, had no known affiliations with Black Nationalism or gangs; no arrest sheet.

In 1968 Subject MOORE fell into orbit of BPP "Minister of Education" Raymond HEWITT, became a volunteer for BPP educational programs and Free Breakfast for School Children Program in 1969. In May of 1969, Agent [REDACTED] approached Subject MOORE to become a confidential informant for law enforcement (Agent [REDACTED] posed as an Oakland PD intelligence officer) due to his stable, law-abiding history. Agent [REDACTED]'s offer was, "to just let us know if the Panthers start moving weight (i.e., narcotics) or guns; we both know we don't want the kids to get hurt." Subject MOORE dismissed Agent [REDACTED], saying, "I'm not going to let them do that, but I'm not about to become a [Uncle] Tom either." Subject MOORE remained close to HEWITT and the BPP until the death of BPP Deputy Chairman Fred HAMPTON in December 1969. Agent [REDACTED] made contact yet again in January 1970 to see if Subject MOORE was interested in becoming a CI under the new circumstances and was rebuffed once more. Subject MOORE should be considered a possible witness in investigations and/or legal proceedings against BPP going forward, but should no longer be approached for recruitment as a confidential informant.