ABSTRACT
Malcolm X, seen as “one of the great prophets of black liberation” at the time of his 1965 assassination, so deeply inspired Huey P. Newton (hereafter HPN) that he would refer to the Black Panther Party as the “heirs of Malcolm.” 1 In such a context, then, imprisonment, rather than a social stigma, became a mark of honor. With Malcolm gone HPN, one of Malcolm's “heirs,” was seen by many Party faithful as the man most able to realize his radical Black Nationalist vision.
How then was HPN perceived by those inside the BPP? Summer 1969 was a hot time in Philadelphia and a time the local branch spent spreading the party message of rebellion and resistance. One internal highlight of the season was a visit to Philadelphia by the respected BPP field marshal, D.C., a member of the Party's leading Central Committee. His visit to the city served to provide an invaluable opportunity for an authentic party elder to teach and guide younger Panthers.
This, D.C. did with sensitivity and alacrity. Wednesday evenings at 7:30, the Party held p.e. (political education) classes for Party members, community workers, and supporters. Usually, more advanced members would read passages from Marxist or radical texts, and then “break them down,” or analyze and explain them.
D.C., with his calm reassuring manner, didn't read from the stodgy, hoary texts but talked informally about his history in the Party, and of conflicts with the state.
“Huey is the baddest muthafucka in Black America. His love for Black folks is so strong, you can walk on it; you can feel it, man!
