(AURN News) — On this day, Feb. 17, 1942, Huey P. Newton was born in Monroe, Louisiana. He later grew up in Oakland, California, where he would become a central figure in the Black Power movement.
In 1966, Newton co-founded the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense alongside Bobby Seale. Established on Oct. 15, 1966, in Oakland, the organization aimed to defend Black communities against police violence while promoting self-determination, empowerment and community control.
Under Newton’s leadership, the Black Panther Party expanded into a national organization with chapters across the United States. The Panthers launched survival programs, including free breakfast for children, community health clinics and education initiatives, while advocating armed self-defense against police brutality. At its height in 1969, the Party claimed thousands of members worldwide.
Newton’s tenure was not without controversy. He faced criticism within the organization over his leadership style and political philosophy, even as the Party endured intense FBI surveillance and internal challenges.
Despite these obstacles, Newton remained committed to Black liberation and continued his activism until the Party’s dissolution in the early 1980s.
Huey P. Newton was killed on Aug. 22, 1989, in Oakland, California. He was 47 years old.
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