Huey P Newton - An African American Revolutionary
In honor of Black History Month, we pay tribute to the incredible life of Huey P Newton, a revolutionary African American leader who profoundly impacted the world. His vision was to inspire audiences to begin their own personal research and to highlight the contributions, impact and the value African Americans individually and collectively have made on America.
Early Years
Huey P Newton was born in Monroe, Louisiana on February 17, 1942. His family moved to Oakland, California where he attended Oakland High School. As a young boy, Newton was known for his intelligence and his passion for learning. He was an avid reader who was constantly inquiring and exploring ideas and topics.
Personal Life
Huey P Newton was married to Gwen Fontaine and they had two children. He was also a dedicated father and was devoted to his children.
Influences
Huey P Newton was influenced by a number of people and ideas. These include:
- Malcolm X
- Marcus Garvey
- The Black Panther Party
- The Civil Rights Movement
- African American History
- Black Nationalism
- Black Power
- Revolutionary Socialism
Career
Huey P Newton co-founded the Black Panther Party in 1966.
The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense
The Black Panther Party was a revolutionary black power organization founded in 1966 by Huey P Newton and Bobby Seale. The Party was known for its advocacy of armed self-defense and its promotion of black pride and unity. The 10 Points of the Black Panther Party were a set of guidelines that outlined the Party’s objectives and beliefs. The 10 Points included:
- We want freedom. We want power to determine the destiny of our black community.
- We want full employment for our people.
- We want an end to the robbery by the capitalists of our black and oppressed communities.
- We want decent housing, fit for shelter of human beings.
- We want education for our people that exposes the true nature of this decadent American society.
- We want education that teaches us our true history and our role in the present-day society.
- We want all black men to be exempt from military service.
- We want an immediate end to police brutality and murder of black people.
- We want freedom for all black men held in federal, state, county and city prisons and jails.
- We want land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice and peace.
These 10 points were the foundation of the Black Panther Party’s mission to fight for the rights of African Americans and to oppose racism and oppression. The Black Panther Party was a powerful force in the black liberation movement, and it continues to be remembered for its commitment to fighting for black empowerment.
Books
Huey P Newton authored a number of books and papers on revolutionary theory and politics. These include:
- Revolutionary Suicide (1973)
- War Against the Panthers: A Study of Repression in America (1981)
- To Die for the People: The Writ
