Huey P. Newton

I've probably written more on the black nationalist movement and the role of that movement in the raising of cultural consciousness in the black community than nearly anyone in this nation. As a result I have maintained copious notes on various characters, personalities and activities of said movement. One component was the Black Panther Party. The recent spate of half-truths about the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and how "honorable" the organization is as it chases down the crimes of President Donald Trump is an insult to black people everywhere. It was the FBI and its leadership that attacked, infiltrated and sabotaged the Black Nationalist movement throughout the 1960s and 1970s. They attacked every single branch and with the help of snitches like Louis Tackwood and Earl Anthony brought down the west and east coast factions. But the most real faction, the most serious of the Black Panther Party organizations were the bruthas and sistahs of Omaha, Nebraska. Believe it or not, they were the most feared, even by the west coast Panthers themselves. Why? Because Omaha didn't just engage in Custer Stands and on-going rap sessions, what the elders called "jackin' off at the mouth." They stood for something, feared no one, and circulated important literature that raised the consciousness of Black Omahans. Two of the leaders of the organization, Ed Poindexter and David Rice, were set up and ended up serving life sentences. David has already died behind bars and Ed is not faring well. But they should never be forgotten for bringing the racism of the Omaha Police Department to the attention of the community. And to them, this book is dedicated. This book deals with the Black Panther Party and its self-diminishing discussions of personalities and its original components. I outline why I use a "critical race theory" approach to addressing the Party because in far too many cases the group on the west coast is viewed in mythical and legendary terms and as I hope to show, it does not deserve to be. I share the Black Panther Party Ten-Point Program, a clone of the program outlined by the Nation of Islam, and provide examples of the "tombstone courage" that was displayed - while reaping nothing. I pay homage to the Omaha chapter, which was so progressive that they changed their name to the Committee to Combat Fascism. After that I deal with Huey P. Newton, co-founder, megalomaniac, bully and genius. Along similar lines I discuss the street element of the Panthers, and the extension of street gangs in some cases. I discuss the leather coats, the pimp mentality and the "cool posing," complete with rifles and berets. Far too few books on these bruthas discuss the misogyny that was rampant in the party and the "crazy nigga" syndrome. Among those discussed in this latter area are Eldridge Cleaver, George Sams, Alex Rackley, Frank "Captain Crutch" Diggs and of course, Huey himself. The issue of "race, black nationalists and white women" will also be explored because this area drove a wedge between the hard-working sistahs in the party and the so-called "down" bruthas. This book addresses Huey's pursuit of his doctorate and his concept of "intercommunalism" even as he began to get increasingly insane. His crack addiction led to his death, which prompts a chapter that asks, was he a "savior or psychotic." In the final analysis, you can be the judge.
About the Author: Matthew C. Stelly is a doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee working on a degree in Urban Education and Community Policy. He holds three Master's degrees: Urban Studies (1982), Urban Education (1983) and Political Science (2000). He is working toward his doctorate in Community Policy/Urban Education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He is the former editor of the Milwaukee Courier newspaper, former director of the Great Plains Black Museum and the Plano (TX) African American Museum, and lead archivist for The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL) in Dallas, Texas. Stelly has more than 2,500 articles in print and has won two national essay competitions. He is the founding director of the largest African-American neighborhood group in Nebraska, the Triple One Neighborhood Association and Parents Union. He is publisher and editor of the Triple One News, a two-time nationally recognized newsletter. He is the father of five children - Mandla, Malik, Clariece, Charisse and Shannon -- and remains actively involved in community organizing and neighborhood development in several cities, including Milwaukee and Omaha.