Today in Labor History, February 17, 1942: Huey Newton was born. Together with Bobby Seale, he cofounded the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, in Oakland, 1966. They did armed patrols of African American communities to defend them from police violence. They started free breakfast programs for children that became the model for federal programs that came later. Despite accusations that he was a rapist, he was also a fierce critic of sexism, and homophobia, and called on the Panthers to give full support to both the Feminist and LGBTQ movements.

For a really great book on the Panthers' house band, The Lumpen, check out Party Music, by Ricky Vincent.

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