Huey Newton, Co-Founder of Black Panther Party

Huey Newton, Co-Founder of Black Panther Party Huey Newton was an African American political activist who co-founded the Black Panther Party in 1966. When Newton was convicted for the fatal shooting of a police officer, his imprisonment became a common cause among activists in the United States. The slogan Free Huey appeared on banners and buttons at protests across the country. He was later released after two re-trials resulted in hung juries. Fast Facts: Huey Newton Known For: Co-founder of the Black Panther Party for Self DefenseBorn: February 17, 1942 in Monroe, LouisianaDied: August 23, 1989 in Oakland, CaliforniaEducation: Merritt College (A.A.), University of California at Santa Cruz (B.A., Ph.D.), Oakland City College (law classes, no degree), San Francisco Law School (law classes, no degree)Notable Quote: Political power comes through the barrel of a gun. Early Life and Education Huey P. Newton was born in Monroe, Louisiana, on February 17, 1942. He was named after Huey P. Long, the former governor of Louisiana who became notorious as a radical populist in the early 1930s. In 1945, Newtons family moved to California, drawn by the job opportunities that arose in the Bay Area as a result of the wartime industrial boom. They struggled financially and moved around often throughout Newtons life. He completed high school- which he later described as an experience that nearly killed [his] urge to inquire- without being able to read (he later taught himself). After high school, he earned an A.A. degree from Merritt College and took law school classes at Oakland City College. Starting in his teen years and continuing through college, Newton was arrested for crimes like mostly petty crimes such as vandalism and burglary. In 1965, when he was 22 years old, Newton was arrested and convicted of assault with a deadly weapon and sentenced to six months in jail. Most of his sentence was served in solitary confinement. Founding the Black Panther Party During his time at Oakland City College, Newton joined the Afro-American Association, which inspired him to become politically and socially conscious. He later said that his Oakland public education had made him feel ashamed of being black, but that his shame began to transform into pride once he encountered black activists. He also began reading radical activist literature, including works by Che Guevara and Malcolm X. Newton soon realized that there were few organizations advocating for lower class African Americans in Oakland. In October 1966, he joined up with Bobby Seale to form a new group, which they called the Black Panther Party for Self Defense. The organization was focused on fighting police brutality in Oakland and San Francisco. With Seale as chairman and Newton as minister of defense, the Black Panthers quickly assembled a membership and began patrolling Oakland neighborhoods. When police were spotted interacting with black citizens, the Panthers would approach and inform the civilians of their constitutional rights. Newton took part in such actions, sometimes while brandishing a law book. The organization adopted a uniform of black leather jackets, black berets, and sunglasses. This distinct uniform, as well as their prominent display of guns and bandoliers of shotgun shells, made the Black Panthers highly noticeable. By the spring of 1967, stories about Newton and the Black Panthers began appearing in major publications. Guns and Political Power The Black Panthers encouraged black citizens of Oakland to begin carrying firearms, citing their Constitutional right under the Second Amendment, and tensions between police and the Black Panthers continued to grow. An article published in the New York Times on May 3, 1967 described an incident in which Newton, Seale, and about 30 other Black Panthers strode into the California capitol in Sacramento with their weapons prominently displayed. The story was headlined Armed Negroes Protest Gun Bill. The Black Panthers had arrived in dramatic fashion to voice their opposition to a proposed law against carrying firearms. It seemed the law had been drafted specifically to curtail their activities. Weeks later, in another article in the New York Times, Newton was described as being surrounded by armed followers in an apartment in San Franciscos Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. Newton was quoted as saying, Political power comes through the barrel of a gun. Arrest and Conviction About a year after the Black Panthers first rose to prominence, Newton became entangled in a high-profile legal case. The case centered around the death of John Frey, who died after pulling over Huey Newton and a friend for a traffic stop. Newton was arrested at the scene. In September 1968, he was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and received a sentence of two to 15 years in prison. Newtons incarceration became a major cause among young radicals and activists. Free Huey buttons and banners could be seen at protests and anti-war rallies nationwide, and rallies for Newtons release were held in numerous American cities. At the time, police actions against Black Panthers in other cities made headlines. In May 1970, Newton was granted a new trial. After two trials were held and both resulted in hung juries, the case was dropped and Newton was released. The specific events, as well as Newtons potential culpability, surrounding John Freys death remain uncertain. Later Life Following his release from prison in 1970, Newton resumed leadership of the Black Panthers and began studying at the University of California at Santa Cruz, where he earned a B.A. in 1974. After a period of relative quiet, Newton was charged with the murder of a teenage sex worker named Kathleen Smith. He was also arrested for assaulting his tailor. Newton fled to Cuba, where he lived in exile for three years. In 1977, Newton returned to California, asserting that the political climate in the United States had changed enough that he could receive a fair trial. After juries were deadlocked, Newton was acquitted of the murder of Kathleen Smith. He returned to the Black Panther organization, and also returned to college. In 1980, he received a Ph.D. from the University of California at Santa Cruz. He wrote a thesis about the repression of the Black Panthers. Death and Legacy In the 1980s, Newton grappled with drug addiction and alcohol abuse. He remained involved with neighborhood programs pioneered by the Black Panthers. However, in 1985, he was arrested for embezzling funds. He was later arrested on a weapons charge, and was also suspected of being involved in the drug trade. In the early hours of August 23, 1989, Newton was shot and killed on a street in Oakland, California. His killing was reported on the front page of the New York Times. Tyrone Robinson confessed to the murder, and it was concluded that the killing was connected to Newtons significant debt caused by his cocaine addiction. Today, Newtons legacy is one of leadership within the Black Panther Party, as well as his controversial convictions and allegations of violence. Sources Nagel, Rob. Newton, Huey 1942–1989. Contemporary Black Biography, edited by Barbara Carlisle Bigelow, vol. 2, Gale, 1992, pp. 177-180. Gale Virtual Reference Library.Huey P. Newton. Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed., vol. 11, Gale, 2004, pp. 367-369. Gale Virtual Reference Library.Spencer, Robyn. Newton, Huey P. Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History, edited by Colin A. Palmer, 2nd ed., vol. 4, Macmillan Reference USA, 2006, pp. 1649-1651. Gale Virtual Reference Library.Associated Press. Huey Newton Killed; Was a Co-Founder Of Black Panthers. New York Times, 23 August 1989, p. A1.Buursma, Bruce. Newton Slain In Drug Dispute, Police Say. Chicago Tribune, 27 August 1989.

Free Essays on Hypothetical

The first issue in the paper is that â€Å"several males who were seen on the streets wearing dark clothing, and who appeared to the officers to be suspicious looking were taken in to custody for questioning†. This issue raises the question; is the several males looking suspicious enough probable cause for the officers to make an arrest, does it violate the male’s rights of the fourth amendment? The fourth amendment states â€Å"the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized† (Inciardi p. 188). An arrest may be made in two ways: with a warrant or without a warrant. In this case it was without a warrant. To make an arrest the officer must have probable cause and there are two ele ments to probable cause to arrest. The first is that a crime has been committed and the other is that the person to be arrested committed the offense (Stuckey, Roberson, Wallace p. 52). It is unclear to me if because the several males â€Å"looked suspicious† if this makes them a suspect of committing the crime. Another issue to address is that Mr. Troubleshooter was chased, apprehended by citizens, and then held to the ground for approximately fifteen minutes against his will. The first problem is that a private person arrest should be made when a crime has been committed, or attempted, in the presence of the arresting person (Stuckey, Roberson, Wallace p. 51). The arrest must be made upon more than a mere suspicion that a crime had been committed. In this case the citizens arrested Mr. Troubleshooter because of his reputation of being a drug dealer, and his â€Å"brisk walk† towards his apartment with what appeared to be a gun. Although Mr. Troubleshooter may have been w... Free Essays on Hypothetical Free Essays on Hypothetical The first issue in the paper is that â€Å"several males who were seen on the streets wearing dark clothing, and who appeared to the officers to be suspicious looking were taken in to custody for questioning†. This issue raises the question; is the several males looking suspicious enough probable cause for the officers to make an arrest, does it violate the male’s rights of the fourth amendment? The fourth amendment states â€Å"the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized† (Inciardi p. 188). An arrest may be made in two ways: with a warrant or without a warrant. In this case it was without a warrant. To make an arrest the officer must have probable cause and there are two ele ments to probable cause to arrest. The first is that a crime has been committed and the other is that the person to be arrested committed the offense (Stuckey, Roberson, Wallace p. 52). It is unclear to me if because the several males â€Å"looked suspicious† if this makes them a suspect of committing the crime. Another issue to address is that Mr. Troubleshooter was chased, apprehended by citizens, and then held to the ground for approximately fifteen minutes against his will. The first problem is that a private person arrest should be made when a crime has been committed, or attempted, in the presence of the arresting person (Stuckey, Roberson, Wallace p. 51). The arrest must be made upon more than a mere suspicion that a crime had been committed. In this case the citizens arrested Mr. Troubleshooter because of his reputation of being a drug dealer, and his â€Å"brisk walk† towards his apartment with what appeared to be a gun. Although Mr. Troubleshooter may have been w...

Week 8 Discussion Questions Math 156 Personal Statement

Week 8 Discussion Questions Math 156 - Personal Statement Example Multiplication or division can be done by using fractional and division forms which have some advantages and disadvantages. Advantages of using fractional and division forms to multiply and divide are: Fractions allow use of small numbers in calculation which makes it easy to do calculations. If the small number is common to both numerator and denominator then it can be used to simplify or cancel both the denominator and numerator and the result is an easily workable fraction. For example, 25/30, a small number such as 5 can be used to cancel the numerator to 5 and the denominator to 6 so that 5/6 is obtained as the simplest fraction. Fraction division involves flipping the numerator and dominator followed by multiplication and simplified by cross multiplication. This makes it easier to work with fractions than decimals. Decimals are also easily workable if converted to fraction or whole numbers. Disadvantages includes cumbersomeness when working with recurring decimals which requires rounding off which in turn affects accuracy of the obtained answer and also some decimals might not be easily changeable to fractions and some fractions might not be easy to divide and simplify. Fourth grade level entails using mixed numbers, calculating probabilities and learning fractions. Knowledge of fractions can be taught using natural solids such as oranges, chocolate bars and guavas just to mention a few. Fraction is made up of two numbers referred to as numerator (top) and denominator (bottom) separated by horizontal line. This concept can be taught using an orange which is divided into several portions. The children should identify the number of portions which are the denominator. Portion(s) taken way are not included in the final number of the remaining portions which forms the numerator. If the orange is divided amongst 4 children, the fraction is  ¼ and if one child eats his/her portion while others await, then the remaining portion is  ¾. In