Friday, September 24, 2010










Huey P. Newton was one of the most influential racial leaders of his time. Along with Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, Huey fought for the civil rights of oppressed black people. He focused his attention in Oakland California, where he and Bobby Seale formed the Black Panther Party for Self Defense. They professed that the organization was established to promote black power, human rights, socio- political liberation and self defense. The Black Panther Party would stick up for their rights and liberties and help others in trouble by any means necessary. Huey was the Minister of Defense for the organization while Bobby Seale was chairman. Their organization had a militaristic style to it, intimidating all who tried to get in the way of their actions. Huey along with the party tried to make it easier for African Americans to live in the ghettos of Oakland without daily persecution because of their ethnicity. They are known today for being the most influential anti-racist group of their time. In addition to his involvement in an anti racist political organization, Huey was also a theorist. During his reign as minister of defense in the BPP, Huey was very strong willed. He had many ambitions and dreams for African American people of the time. He tried to empower the people in Oakland, giving them confidence to get by when many were being harassed and harmed daily. He was feared by many, and respected by most as a powerful leader.Track #1: Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World is Today)
Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
Huey was a realist and showed this, preaching to African Americans about racial inequality and police brutality, which were very common back in the 60’s and 70s. He wanted to protect his fellow people from all of that. In fact, that’s the reason as to why the Black Panther Party initially started. It was for the protection of African Americans in their time of need. Huey made it possible for people to stick up for themselves and fight for what was right. At that time, Oakland California was full of violence and crime. African Americans didn’t know what to think about government, law and personal treatment because there was so much hypocrisy in all of it. The lyrics, “Just a ball of confusion, that’s what the world is today…fear in the air, tension everywhere…” refers to the state of Oakland during that time. Many African Americans were being treated unjustly and didn’t know what was going to come next. Racial persecution and narrow-mindedness was at an all time high.

Track#2: Fed Up Wit the Bullshit
Lifestylez ov da Poor and Dangerous
Newton was a fierce man who didn’t particularly like the law. He saw that the police were there only to do no good the city of Oakland. Newton disobeyed the law on numerous occasions while in the Black Panther Party. He had gotten thrown in jail for physically assaulting a cop and many other times by staging violent protests on city streets. He was even accused of murdering Oakland police officer John Frey, but soon thereafter was found innocent. Huey P. Newton wasn’t the most forgiving person. He held grudges. The lyrics, “I’m a n*g who don’t dig a motherf*&%$in pig. Cause to me they ain’t nothing but harassers that misuse they badges to whip ni**as as&*s…” This fierce emotion through song and poetry can be seen in Huey P. Newton’s actions. “And them cops better stop or I’ma stop ‘em by any means…” This represents Huey’s perseverance throughout the whole black power movement. When he got arrested, he would go to jail, get out and do the same thing over again. Relentlessness at its best.

Track #3: Get Up Stand Up
Legend
Huey P. Newton didn’t confront all situations with anger and aggression. He wrote books and essays including but not limited to, Fear and Doubt on May 15, 1967. This was after he had had the run in with Oakland police officer John Frey. In the essay he explained that his way of dealing with self-doubt was through Marxism and revolutionary doctrine. He also exclaimed that no black person can succeed because the system is created to serve whites and exclude blacks. Also, that no self-respecting African American should want to succeed, because capitalism is morally corrupt anyway (William L. O'Neill).
The lyrics, “…But you know what life is worth. You will look for yours on earth, and now you will see the light. Stand up for your rights, Jah…” refers to Newton’s determination and patience. He knew every time he got out of jail that he would be doing the same thing until some positive result occurred. Newton just needed time and followers to strengthen the Black Power movement.

Track #4: Survival of the Fittest
The Infamous
Huey P. Newton and the Black Panther Party held a militaristic lifestyle. They had the organization compared to that of a small militia group and practiced self defense with guns and fighting technique. The Black Panther Party also dressed in formal military attire, always using the right to bare arms. As Minister of Defense, Newton really had to plan what the Party partook in. Rallies and protests were common during civil rights movement. The Party went to war protests also, defending African American rights in the Vietnam war. The lyrics, “Yo, we livin’ this ‘til the day that we die. Survival of the fit n**ga we still alive…” refers to Huey’s intimidation techniques as minister of defense. He knew that to get attention and make progress, he had to look the part as well as play the part of a radical civil rights activist. In addition, Newton used his mental ability to gain social and political awareness.

Track #5: A Well Respected Man
Kwyet Kinks
Huey P. Newton was a respected man throughout his community. He was the co-founder of an African American civil rights organization called the Black Panther Party for Self-defense. As leader and minister of defense in the Black Panther Party, Newton had many roles that he had to play, with others counting on his guidance and intellect. Many African Americans looked up to Huey for knowledge in legal rights and in everyday situations. He had the job of protecting African Americans from the social inequality and police brutality of White Americans, which during that time was a great task. The lyrics, “Cause he gets up in the morning and he goes to work at nine, and he comes back home at five-thirty, gets the same train every time…” refers to Newton’s respectability throughout his community and his organization. He was always helping others, with others always coming to him for guidance.

Track #6: Hate & War
The Essential Clash Disc 1
Hate and War was what the Black Panther Party was involved in during the 1960’s. They were constantly being harassed by law enforcement and governmental figures. In addition, Huey used these tactics to achieve progress in the Black Power movement. They were in an all out war with authority. The black Panther Party practiced anti-establishment actions. They were very rebellious in what they did. The lyrics, “I’m going to stay in the city even when the house fall down. I don’t dream of a holiday, when hate an’war come around” is referring to Huey’s ambition in the civil rights movement. When times got bad, he’d be there. Only when he was found to be guilty of two felony convictions did he flee from persecution to Cuba. When there, he continued his involvement in Black Panther Party. In any situation, Newton would pull through. This a good example of how he never knew when to quit.

Track #7: The Day the Ni**az Took Over
The Chronic
This song symbolizes Huey’s dream where one day African Americans wouldn’t be persecuted for their color or ethnicity. One day there would be an uprising from government and law. Amendments would be passed so that all people had equal rights in civil, political and legal processes. Huey always wanted what was best for his people and did what ever he could to defend them. The lyrics, “Dem riot in Compton and dem riot in Long Beach. Dem riot in L.A. cus dem don’t really want to see. Ni**az start to loot and police start to shoot…” refers to the anger that people had in Oakland at the time. They were fed up with harassment and had to rebel somehow. Newton had rebelled in a constructive way.

Track #8: Revolution
The Beatles 1967-1970
Huey P. Newton knew prior to starting the Black Panther Party with Bobby Seale that he had to do something about Oakland‘s injustices. The Black Panther Party was known as an African-American revolutionary left wing organization. At that time, Newton was known for his involvement in the Black Power movement and in U.S. politics. Huey and Bobby Seale did something that nobody else had done. They had created an organization who’s main activity was the observation of police interaction with African-American residents of Oakland (William L. O‘ Neill). The lyrics, “You say you want a revolution well, you know we all want to change the world. You tell me that it’s evolution well, you know we all want to change the world,” refers to Huey and the Black Panther Party’s main goal. Huey thought that later on, his works would change the world and that happened. With revolutionary action comes evolutionary thinking. That was Newton’s radical mindset throughout the civil rights movement.
. Rec. 1967-70. Apple, April 1973.
. Rec. June 1992. Death Row, Interscope, Priority, December 15, 1992.
. Rec. 8 Apr. 1977. Epic, 2003.
. Rec. Apr. 1965. Pye, September 17, 1965.
. Rec. Mar. 1994. Loud/RCA/BMG Records, April, 1995.
. Tuff Gong/Island, 1973.
. Rec. 1993-95. Columbia/Sony Music, 1995.
. Rec. 12 Apr. 1970. Gordy, May 7, 1970.
 

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