Happy Birthday Huey P. Newton

“You can jail a Revolutionary, but you can't jail the Revolution” - Huey P. Newton

(Huey P. Newton)

Dr. Huey Percy Newton was born February 17, 1942 in Monroe, Louisiana, USA. In 1945 Newton’s family moved out to Oakland, CA.

(Huey P. Newton’s high school photo)

He attended Merritt College, San Francisco Law School, and the University of California Santa Cruz where he earned a bachelor's degree and later a Ph.D in social philosophy. In 1964 Newton was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon and served 6 months in jail. While attending Merritt College Newton became involved in the politics of the Bay Area. He joined the Afro-American Association and became a member of the fraternity Phi Beta Sigma. He played a role in getting the first African-American History course in Merritt College.  He read the works of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Frantz Fanon, Malcolm X, Mao Zedong, Durkheim, and Che Guevara during his time at Merritt College. Newton and friend Bobby Seale founded the Black Panther Party for Self Defense in October of 1966.

(Bobby Seale (Left) and Huey P. Newton (Right) standing in front of the Black Panther Party HQ)

Bobby Seale became chairman of the organization and Newton became the minister of defense. Many of the Black Panther’s beliefs were influenced by Malcolm X. The party’s goals were included in their 10 point program. They promoted self defense and for Blacks to defend themselves from police brutality and other racially motivated attacks against them. Newton sought to educate those around him about the legality of self-defense while recruiting new members to the party. The Panthers did numerous things for the Bay Area community including founding the Oakland Community School, which provided high-level education to 150 children from impoverished urban neighborhoods. Other Panther programs included the Free Breakfast for Children Program and others that offered dances for teenagers and training in martial arts.

(Huey Newton pictured with the local youth of Oakland, CA) On October 28th 1967 Newton and a friend were pulled over by Oakland Police officers. While trying to arrest Newton and his friend shots were fired and Newton and 2 police officers were wounded. 1 of the officers died from the bullet wounds. No guns were found on Newton or the officer that died. Newton was then arrested and charged for the death of the officer. Newton was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in September of 1968. He was sentenced to 2 to 15 years.

(Huey Newton in jail after being convicted of voluntary manslaughter)

In May of 1970 the conviction was reversed and a new trial was ordered. The charges were dismissed after 2 new trials ending in hung juries. Newton received an invitation to visit the People’s Republic of China in 1970 and visited in 1971. He was greeted by thousands of people that were in support of the Black Panther Party.In 1974 he earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California Santa Cruz. On August 6th 1974 Newton shot an 18 year old woman after she made him mad after a casual exchange. Newton and his girlfriend fled to Cuba and lived there until 1977.

(Huey Newton’s mugshot)

Newton was acquitted in September of 1978. Newton earned a Ph.D. in social philosophy at the University of California Santa Cruz in 1980.

(Huey Newton at his graduation following earning his Ph.D.)

On August 22nd, 1989 Newton was fatally shot by a Black Guerrilla Family member in Oakland, CA. He was 47 years old. Today he would’ve been 74 years old and we would all like to say happy birthday and rest in peace Huey P. Newton.

Movies Involving Huey P. Newton

• Panther (1995)
• A Huey P. Newton Story (2001)
• The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution (2015)

Books Involving Huey P. Newton

• To Die For the People (1972) By Huey P. Newton
• Revolutionary Suicide (1973) By Huey P. Newton
• War Against the Panthers (1980) By Huey P. Newton

Songs that reference Huey P. Newton

• “Panther Power” By Paris
• “Welcome to the Terrordome” By Public Enemy

Videos including Huey P. Newton

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHL7glIcP4o  “Huey P. Newton, Ishmael Reed & Jawanza Kunjufu On Racism Against Black Men (1988)”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuU7bEqKcLk  “HUEY P. NEWTON INTERVIEW FROM JAIL”