Bobby Seale (born October 22, 1936) and Huey P. Newton cofounded the Black Panther Party in 1966. Seale went on to become the chairman of the party and underwent FBI surveillance as part of its COINTELPRO program. As of 2002 he is dedicating his time to Reach, a group that focuses on youth education programs.

Seale was one of the original Chicago Eight defendants at the charged with conspiracy and inciting to riot, in the wake of the 1968 Democratic National Convention, in Chicago, Illinois. Judge Julius Hoffman eventually ordered Seale severed from the case, hence the "Chicago Seven"