The Huey P. Newton Reader

by Huey P. Newton, David Hilliard (introduction), Donald Weise (editor)

The first comprehensive collection of writings by the Black Panther Party founder and revolutionary icon of the black liberation era, The Huey P. Newton Reader combines now-classic texts ranging in topic from the formation of the Black Panthers, African Americans and armed self-defense, Eldridge Cleaver’s controversial expulsion from the Party, FBI infiltration of civil rights groups, the Vietnam War, and the burgeoning feminist movement with never-before-published writings from the Black Panther Party archives and Newton’s private collection, including articles on President Nixon, prison martyr George Jackson, Pan-Africanism, affirmative action, and the author’s only written account of his political exile in Cuba in the mid-1970s. Eldridge Cleaver, Bobby Seale, Angela Davis, Mumia Abu-Jamal, and Geronimo Pratt all came to international prominence through Newton’s groundbreaking political activism. Additionally, Newton served as the Party’s chief intellectual engine, conversing with world leaders such as Yasser Arafat, Chinese Premier Chou Enlai, and Mozambique President Samora Moises Machel among others.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Politics, Race, Biography, African American, Essays

368 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2002

About the author

Huey Percy Newton was co-founder and leader of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, a civil rights organization that began in October 1966.

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5, obviously really important ideas that are key to understanding the BPP philosophy and programs. Only difficult to wade through at times because of its subject matter and density and some sexist ideas within 1960s/70s Black liberation that were unfortunately typical. Huey P. Newton was an incredible thinker and iconic revolutionary. Also I fcking love that the back of this book has the usual blurbs from other writers and then the LITERAL STATEMENT FROM J EDGAR HOOVER about what a dangerous threat the Black Panther Party is. The editors and publishers of this collection said fck the FBI! ACAB

***also this book is like 2 weeks overdue from the public library oops***

[Corie Sanford · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a slow moving reader, but the chronological structure really reveals how Newton grows and matures over time - I learned a lot, and was challenged, and will be thinking about his writing and insight and intellect for a long time.

[Nicko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stokely Carmicheal started the black empowerment movement, a violent reaction to the discontent over the harrassment from MLK's non-violent movement that saw many beat and lynched, Huey P. Newton took that sentiment and ran with it in his unique style and humor.

[Rarain · Rating 5 out of 5]

A political powerful read.

[hami · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read on Black Panthers. It familiarized me with philosophy, history and thinking of Huey P Newton, better than all the other books I have read on this subject. It provides first hand account of the Black Panthers struggles throughout their activism until Huey’s death.

It also has some of the crucial articles in the Black Panther newspaper written by Huey. Articles such as: “In Defense of Self Defense”, and “On the Defection of Eldridge Cleaver from the Black Panther Party and the Defection of the Black Panther Party from the Black Community”.

What I like about the Panthers is that they followed Malcolm X’s footsteps and include the struggles of Third world peoples into their struggle against the Amerikkkan Hegemony. They understood the relationship between internal colonialism within the US colonial borders and the external colonialism that the United States engaged in after the WWII in global south, most notably in Korea, South America, and Vietnam.

There was a reason that at one point in the 70’s J Edgar Hoover, the FBI director, allocated seventy five percent of FBI’s efforts to combat the Panthers. After reading this book, I think,I will pick up Huey’s PHD thesis; “War Against The Panthers: A Study Of Repression In America” 1980, and Huey’s autobiography published in 1973, “Revolutionary Suicide”.

[Alexis Gates · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my opinion, Dr. Huey P. Newton was a brilliant revolutionary. This book shares various writings by Dr. Newton and is chronologized in a way that showcases his growth over the span of about a decade. His strategies and organization pertaining to the Black Panther Party are grounded in dialectical materialism, that is to say his thought process and actions were based in logic and reality. He also credits the principles of the Party to the honorary Malcolm X, whom I admire greatly. I enjoyed his interpretations of revolution and how he incorporated nature and the workings of the universe to support his theories.

My favorite essay in this reader was "Eve, the Mother of All Living: 1974". In this essay he shares his theory on how society slowly transitioned from matriarchal to patriarchal. This essay addresses the myth of Genesis, white male rage, and the "fall" of women, who were once supreme beings, to, now, one of the most oppressed groups in society.

This reader can be very hard to get through. This is the type of book where you will find yourself reading one sentence over and over again to gain understanding if you are not comfortable and familiar with intellectually dense material; thus, making it very easy to lose interest or become overwhelmed.

Overall, I really appreciate Dr. Newton's intelligence, his stance, and his contributions to Black liberation.

[Anthony Barone · Rating 5 out of 5]

To understand modern Marxism and the American Material Conditions for Revolutionary Activity in the modern era, read this book. Newton describes in simplistic language how the whole American people are colonized. He explains the necessity of community programs, such as the Free Breakfast Program, to build solidarity with the people. When this solidarity is achieved the people will follow the Party to the Revolution. Newton is very open about the Party's shortcomings and is absolutely self-critical. An important attribute for any Marxist worth there spit to have. Newton and the Editor Hillard describe the brutal suppression by the FBI via COINTELPRO of the BPP. Absolutely essential for everyone to read considering many of the tactics used against the BPP in the mid-20th Century were used against BLM and her organizers this past Summer with chillingly similar outcomes.

[Eddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. Some of the collected articles are more for the historical record, but particularly the large chapter on his sham of a trial, and the reflections on how the FBI and other three letter agencies weaponised every trick in the book to delegitimise, weaken, and fracture the Black Panther movement, was really gripping. Newton was evidently an insightful man and at one point in time, public enemy number 1 for the US government. That alone makes him interesting and this worth a read. It's also very interesting to see how Newton's own thoughts and ideas evolve over time. His writing in the 60s is entirely focused on being Black in America, whilst by the mid 70s he is very much focused on a global viewpoint with regards to capitalism and American imperialism, and emphasises collective unity and struggle.

[Amaan Pirani · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tbh I wasn't super interested in the unrelatable philosophical ramblings of the founder of the black Panthers

That said he had some.... interesting.. quotes:

"we want to hit a homosexual in the mouth because we are afraid we might be a homosexual... We want to hit a woman or shit her up because we are afraid she might castrate us "or take the nuts that we might not have to start with."
-founder of the black Panthers in response to ppl who would argue they shouldn't align w gay rights / women's rights movement

[H.K. Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts off strong, very intriguing, detailing the founding of the party and Huey's early experiences, but the book progresses chronologically and pulls from a number of his later speeches, writings, and conversations, which are much more academic and theory based. Became too much of a philosophical read for me throughout much of the book. The beginning of the book, and the end where he discusses the government's/FBI's attack on the party I found most interesting.

[Ray’Von Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me so much insight into Huey P. Newton’s mind. I learned so much as I delved into each chapter. My favorite quote: “It’s not a question of ‘when the revolution comes’: the revolution is always going on. It’s not a question of ‘when the revolution is going to be’: the revolution is going on every day, every minute, because the new is always struggling against the old for dominance.”

[Kenny Stevenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read about Huey Newton, but be forewarned, Huey was intensely interested in philosophy, and so some chapters can be really dense, and hard to follow, but Huey always knows where the conversation is going, and brings it home at the end. However, you may get a little lost along the way. Still worth it.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond being a tough-as-nails revolutionary force, an intellectual with a shotgun, a friend to the oppressed, and an American hero, Huey is also beautiful writer. Highly recommend reading the story of the Black Panthers from the Minister of Defense himself.

[Peter Rak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a compelling and essential historical piece to answer how Marxism affected civil rights in the civil rights movement and how it continues today. Newton is brilliant and his arguments are very compelling.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible.

[Rafael Suleiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very intense collection of essays and writings from Huey P. Newton.

[Guido Colacci · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!! Amazing man and leader!

[Lourvens Pierre · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 was good overall I just had some disagreements here in there

[Mykie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why I read this book:
I have a strong passion for black history, black consciousness and the black experience. It is very important for me to understand where my people have been in order to be involved with where we are going. I picked up this book with the intention of learning more about Huey P. Newton, who was a pioneer in his own right.

Content: 1/1
The contents of the book were hefty and solid in my quest to gather more details about Huey P. Newton, his perspective and his life. The first part of the book was an excerpt from his auto-biography, Revolutionary Suicide, while the rest of the book was a collection of his writings and speeches. I truly feel that this book allows readers to clear up the many rumors and misconceptions they may have about The Black Panther Party and Huey P. Newton. This book shows the evolution of Newton and his thoughts and perceptions, which were not all bad and violent as one might be provoked to assume. His passions for fighting oppression and for the liberation of Black America were deep and strong and I appreciated the opportunity to read through his writings and get a real feel of his perspective. It was really refreshing to see his growth demonstrated through his writings and speeches. As mentioned earlier, the first part of the book was a segment from his auto-biography, which gave a very intimate and close view of his perspectives early on. Then, the book transitioned to some of his writings and speeches, where his growth and his development were transparent. Although I do not agree with every tactic Newton was passionate about, I agree with his bottom line and this book helped remind me that my people are still oppressed and that there is a dying need for unity within our communities. The message was loud, clear and true.

Delivery: 1/1
Newton was highly intelligent, detailed and honest. I appreciated that his speeches were matter-of-fact, truthful and direct. His rhetoric was engaging and I found great joy reading his writings.

Relevance: 1/1
The year is now 2014 and the black community is still fighting oppression. We lack unity and consciousness within our communities, we lack power within our communities and some of the same battles Newton aimed to resolve are still present today. His perspective and the research he performed for the development of his organization are still relevant today.

Impact: 1/1
This read impacted me deeply. I gathered a better and healthier perspective of Newton and The Black Panther Party. Although I do not agree with all of the actions they participated in, nor do I agree with everything they set out to do, I do firmly agree with their bottom line and this read was an important reminder that there is a dying need for unity and togetherness in the black community in order to fight oppression and to increase our power.

Bonus: 1/1
This is a star I only give if there is something about the book that goes above and beyond my needs and expectations. The fact that Newton did not learn to read until he was seventeen years old, but was still such a strong writer and speaker (even in his early twenties) amazes me. This bonus star is for that fact, alone.

My rating distribution for book reviews in general:

Content: 0-1 star
Delivery: 0-1 star
Relevance: 0-1 star
Impact: 0-1 star
Bonus (if warranted by additional components of the book that enhanced my experience with the read): 0-1 star

[tara bomp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating if you're interested in the Black Panthers, probably not so much otherwise. The first quarter is an extract from his autobiography Revolutionary Suicide, which I really want to read now and would probably be a better bet if you're not interested in the more detailed parts of his ideology and how it developed - it's a pretty gripping read even with just the short extract. The end chapter is an extract from War Against The Panthers which was his doctoral thesis and talks about the ways the FBI tried to bring them down - they're the sort of things that are completely expected but still incredible to have confirmed and I think the book would make an important case study on the issue of police repression.

The biggest frustration here is that he never really explains deeply some of his positions - I'm thinking primarily here of his ideas about intercommunalism. I don't know if he just never wrote more articles answering questions on the topic or what but I didn't really get a good grip on what he's talking about, which is annoying because it seems to have been an important part of his later ideology. Overall the impression you get is of someone who is serious about working in the Marxist tradition (he rejects the term Marxist because of its connotations with dogmatic people who believe in re-runs of 1917) - he talks constantly about dialectics, he references Mao, Che, Marx, Lenin (both directly and through borrowed metaphors etc), he focuses on the economic dimension. He constantly criticises himself and previous party positions and comes across as highly honest and dedicated. I came away from the book impressed by a revolutionary hero.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A third of this book is a reprint of Revolutionary Suicide, which is incredibly well written, probably in part due to Toni Morrison's editing. As for chapters from other collections, Intercommunalism and the speech to Boston College are clear and concise renderings about the political philosophies of the Black Panthers. The rest of the material does not have the immediacy, readability or fire. These two essays are worth at least borrowing the book for. I'd start with Revolutionary Suicide first.

[Kei · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has opened me up to Huey P. Newton on the most interconnecting level possible. It is great to know the background of Huey, his thoughts, and his actions. Before buying this book I had only the brief idea of who/what Huey P. Newton is/was. The book is great, in detail and knowledge. Everytime I pick it up I have a hard time putting it down, because I just want to know more. It has curved my ideas of the System of racism in America to have more of a solid/valid argument vs the overall "America is racist". I can break it down why I feel such a way...


-To be Updated after Completed-

[Q · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Black Panther Party Platform and Program is still totally revolutionary today, and the Party's history is impressive and inspiring. Some of the writing in this reader is pretty repetitive though, and at times Newton veers into overly abstract philosophy. But at his best he is incisive and empowering. It's great to see him speaking out for gay and lesbian and women's rights at that early point, and in particular to hear him speak frankly about being personally uncomfortable with these movements even as he wants to politically align himself with them.

[Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huey P. Newton is timeless. He is a tribute to what deep powers lie within the lumpen, their lack of exposure or indoctrination allows them to dream and act in ways ordinary people think unimaginable. Huey was ahead of his time and his theory of intercommunalism predicted globalization accurately, just goes to show what Revolutionary Science can do when in the hands of the oppressed. This is a book that I will always re-read and never get tired with.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It is human liberation that makes a dialectic with every suffering member of the mass of humankind. There is simply not enough power to go around. So men will fight women in the way whites fight Blacks. Women’s liberation must transcend the scarcity principle, under which it has been operating, must make common cause against the snake of antinatural tyranny; in the house, certainly, but finally in the white house and other places of the West."

[Jordan Mosley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the most enlightening and mind opening book I have read so far. This book had me realize not only the flaws in my methodology but made me confront my ideology of approaching problems. It was also very informative to see what really happened during that time. I really loved this book and I want to read more of his writings. I highly suggest this to anyone.

[Noelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic. He was, obviously, brilliant. It also provides an often overlooked perspective on the 1960s.

[jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

all men writing in this era like to talk about scamming and fighting, i've noticed.
this, more than anything, feels like something that should not be rated with these little stars. oh well.

[Amanda P · Rating 5 out of 5]

huey is ( was) the man