Leaders of the Black Power Movement
Malcom X
"...Early in life, I had learned that if you want something, you had better make some noise."
Malcolm X began to study the teachings of NOI leader Elijah Muhammad around 1950. Muhammad taught that white society actively worked to keep African-Americans from empowering themselves and achieving political, economic and social success. Among other goals, the NOI fought for a state of their own, separate from one inhabited by white people. By 1952, Malcolm was a devoted follower with the new surname "X." During his time with the NOI Malcolm X served as the minister of the Nation of Islam and as its national spokesman. Malcolm X helped the NOI increase from 400 members in 1952 to an estimated 100,000 to 300,000 in 1964.
To read more about Malcom X, please go to [[1]]
Source: http://www.cmgww.com/historic/malcolm/about/bio.htm
Huey Newton
"Sometimes if you want to get rid of the gun, you have to pick the gun up."
Huey Newton was a radical, the co-founder and the Minister of Defense for the Black Panther Party for more than 20 years. According to his friend and co-leader of the Black Panther Party, Bobby Seale, "Newton put the Black Panther Party into motion. He is the philosophical theoretician, the practioner, the head director, and the top official spokesman for the Black Panther Party. It is impossible to talk about the Black Panther Party without first talking about Huey Newton". Newton was not afraid to rebel against authority as he constantly used rallies to make the voices, needs and wants of African-Americans heard.
To read more about Huey Newton, please go to [[2]]
Source: http://www.pbs.org/hueypnewton/index.html and Seale, Bobby. Seize the Time: The Story if the Black Panther Party and Huey P. Newton. Baltimore: Black Classic Press, 1970.
Bobby Seale
"All Power To All The People!"
Bobby Seale was the chairman and co-founder of the Black Panther Movement. His main role in this movement was Self-Defense. Seale believed his quote "all power to all the people!" was essential and correct. Seale looked "...toward a future world of cooperational humanism!" Through the Ten Point Program and the Black Power Movement, Seale's contributions to the Black Power Movement aided in the liberation of African-Americans. As of 2002, Seale continues speaking of his involvement with the Black Panthers and is an advocate for civil rights and social change.
To read more about Bobby Seale, please go to [[3]]
Sources: http://www.pbs.org/hueypnewton/people/people_seale.html and http://www.bobbyseale.com/
Though three names are listed here, there are many more men and women who aided in the creation and success of the Black Power Movement. For more information about other leaders involved in the Black Panther Movement, please go to http://www.pbs.org/hueypnewton/people/people_other.html
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