♪ We shall overcome... ♪
(Malcolm X) There is nothing more dangerous than to build a society
with a large segment of people
who feel they have no stake in it,
who feel they have nothing to lose.
People who have stake in their society
protect that society,
but when they don't have it,
they unconsciously want to destroy it.
(Chanting) We want king!
I am convinced the most potent weapon available to oppressed people
as they struggle for freedom and justice
is the weapon of nonviolence.
We are nonviolent with people who are nonviolent with us.
But we are not nonviolent
with anyone who is violent with us.
This is an unlawful assembly.
You are ordered to disperse.
Go home or go to your church.
This march will not continue!
Next week, I shall ask the congress of the United States to act,
to make a commitment that is not fully made in this century
to the proposition that race has no place
in American life or law.
(Malcolm X) Well, anytime you live in a society
supposedly based upon lav,
and it doesn't enforce its own law
because the color of a man's skin is wrong,
then those people are justified
to resort to any means necessary
to bring about justice where the government can't give them justice.
(Gun cocks)
(Gunshot)
(Judge) The black panthers.
People still ask me how it all started,
how things went so far.
And like a lot of questions about the panthers,
there are different answers, different beginnings.
What became the black panther party for self defense
really started with two guys,
Bobby Seale and Huey Newton, saying two words--
defend yourselves.
Story has it that they hooked up at some coffeehouse
where Bobby was running down a rhyme.
Oh, yeah. It's easy to see...
Right on your black and white TV.
Black man. Blue cop. Red blood.
Brothers watching other brothers die.
Oh, my. That's the American way.
What you doing?
-Hey, get him off me. -Settle down, black boy.
The police threw them both in jail.
You know, the man is convinced
his foot is an integral part of our ass.
Yeah. But fuck that.
Dig it. Fuck that.
There they started talking about black folks
ought to start standing up for themselves.
No master plan. No pot to piss in.
Nothing like that.
Just two fed-up brothers.
Next thing you know, bam.
You got the black panther party for self defense.
One of the first members to join
was little Bobby Hutton.
What's happening?
And that got the ball rolling.
(Siren)
♪ Whoa! ♪
♪ I feel good ♪
♪ I knew that I would, now... ♪
But for me, it started differently.
(Train whistle blows)
♪ So good ♪
♪ so good ♪
♪ I got you ♪
♪ whoa! ♪
♪ Bernadette ♪
♪ people are searching for ♪
♪ the kind of love that we possess ♪
♪ some go on ♪
♪ searching their whole life through ♪
♪ and never find the love ♪
♪ I found in you ♪
♪ ooh ♪
♪ and when I speak of you ♪
♪ I see envy in other men's eyes... ♪
(Gasps)
Look at you looking.
What you looking at is almost 30 years old,
but this hat is brand-new.
Get yourself on to school, boy.
Yes, ma'am.
I should tell your mama on you.
Little cutie pie.
Hey, Luther, man, he was messing around
with that old white woman.
I'm going to pour some out for Luther.
Fuck Luther, man. He owe me $30.
You ain't going to get that money now from Luther.
When I see his mother, I'll get my money.
She ain't got no money.
Check it out.
I got the perfect gift for that sophisticated lady.
Light up her flame with solid gold.
Act now, the second one half-price.
Look at this.
Why you still trying to sell these?
Hey, I don't know him.
Man, get your one-eyed ass out of here.
Shut up, you tall midget,
and pay me for this fake lighter.
Tiny, you get to school.
You mad 'cause you can only see half the lighter.
Hi, tiny.
Get to school on time.
Mmm. Mmm. Fine young man.
God damn you!
How could you do that?
What's happening? What's happening?
Like I said,
for me it started a lot differently.
Yeah.
I guess you could say for me
the black panther party...
Started in my mom's front yard.
You better shoot.
Oh, man!
-Uh! “What you do in Vietnam? You shoot?
I shot everything in nam, baby.
Man, he ain't in the game.
Don't you fine black men got anything better to do?
Sure. But your sister ain't home.
Take it.
Thought some righteous brothers like yourselves might be able to help us out,
but I guess that ain't you.
Help who with what?
With your community, that's who.
Maybe you ain't know, but another kid died today.
That's three this year.
The same spot.
Same street. And old reverend slocum,
he's having another vigil to put a stoplight at that corner.
I'm asking you able black asses
to come down and be observers on them cops.
Take down some badge numbers.
They don't pull a lot of shit when too many eyes are on them.
Y'all can help not by praying but by watching.
You think the police care about black people praying?
The community has been trying to get this stoplight put in
since before my mother was a virgin.
You think city hall really cares about a bunch of black
having another prayer vigil at some goddamn church?
They ain't going to have it at church.
They going to march to the intersection, a peaceful protest.
My mom's out there.
I ain't fucking with no cops.
They don't like us getting involved with no political shit.
We shouldn't even interact with the white man.
We are African, brother.
Mother Africa's the only salvation.
Look, you phony-ass boojy nigger.
We ain't in Africa. We in Oakland.
In Oakland we got police brutality.
We got the white man interacting his Billy club
upside the black man's head.
If that shit don't bother you,
take your skirt-wearin' ass back to Africa.
Now come on. Hey, come on.
We don't want to go. Ok? Go.
What about you? You were both there.
-You saw that kid. -Yeah, I saw, but...
But what? You do live here, don't you?
Yeah, I do live here.
Then act like it, man.
Come on. This'll take a second. I promise.
You young niggers crazy.
The man ain't going to let y'all have no say-so in shit.
He going to come down on y'all like a ton of bricks
just like this right here.
Don't let the cops provoke you.
We're just taking down badge numbers.
Who's we, man?
Where you been? We the black panther party for self defense.
Y'all some kind of gang?
We ain't no gangsters. We're revolutionaries. Can you dig it?
He's only 16.
We made him get his ma's permission before he joined.
167 he's just a kid, man.
Cops kick the shit out of kids, too.
♪ We're fighting for our freedom... f
the black community was a family,
a strong force to be reckoned with.
The ghetto was never heaven.
We had our crooks and drunks
and the establishment exploiting us.
As long as we suffered in silence,
the authorities left us alone.
♪ We shall not be moved... ♪
But...
That silent-suffering shit was about to change.
You said all the panthers would be here.
What you see is what you get. That's Bobby Seale.
And that-- that's Huey.
Shit, ain't too many of you motherfuckers.
Hey, man, it only takes a single grain of sand to move the world.
♪ We shall not be moved... ♪
What the Sam hill is this?
A vigil for some pickaninny got hit here.
Start taking down badge numbers, y'all.
Vigil, my ass.
Now listen up.
You've got 30 seconds
to disperse and return to your homes.
Failure to do so
will result in your immediate arrest.
♪ We shall not ♪
♪ we shall not be moved ♪
♪ we shall not ♪
♪ we shall not be moved ♪
♪ just like a tree ♪
♪ that's planted by the water ♪
You are resisting arrest.
♪ We shall not be moved ♪
♪ we shall not be moved ♪
♪ we shall not-- ♪
Go.
Hey, y'all, the cops covering their badges. They can't do that!
Mom!
Get a number, man.
Get a number on that cop!
Mom!
Hey, look, this observer stuff ain't working.
The cops cover their badges,
and even if we do report it, don't nothing happen.
I know we need to stay disciplined.
But I ain't joined this motherfucker
just to get my ass kicked.
-Yeah! -Dig it!
We must turn the other cheek, brothers.
-Oh, man. -Tch.
Remember, the meek shall inherit the earth.
Wait, wait, hold. Look, fellas, what we need to do...
Is pray for their forgiveness.
They know not what they do.
Hey, no offense, reverend,
but they been practicing on us for 400 years.
I think they know exactly what they doing.
Brother Malcolm said we need to stop singing
and start swinging.
Y'all can rant and rave, but it's the police who got the gun.
Shit, if black folks had guns,
we'd probably shoot each other with them.
-Aw! -Tch!
Lord, why don't they show us no respect?
Because they don't have to.
They think they can brutalize us and lock us up without a jury of our peers
'cause we're ignorant to the laws.
We need to organize, keep our shit correct,
and exercise our constitutional right as citizens
to defend ourselves and arm ourselves.
Then if they try to brutalize us or violate our rights,
we defend ourselves.
What the hell the boy saying?
The man said we can carry guns.
That's right.
Y'all going to get guns and shoot cops?
It ain't about shooting cops.
It's about getting the man's attention
and showing our community
that we ain't got to take this shit no more.
The establishment, it don't listen when we sing, pray, or beg.
But they see some disciplined brothers with guns,
they'll know the black panther party for self defense is serious
about defending the rights of our people.
All power to the people.
All power to the people!
(Laughter)
Free at last, my brothers and sisters.
God has delivered us from the lion's den.
Reverend, we back where we started.
We still ain't got a stoplight.
As the reverend says, god helps those that help themselves.
We'll be our own stoplight.
Y'all need a hot meal and a hot bath.
We learn through observation and participation.
Yes!
Hey. Hey!
What you doing there? Is there a problem?
That's beautiful, man. They being their own stoplight.
Cy, what is that going to do, man?
We got to start somewhere.
I'm going to start by working on things from inside the system.
That's why I volunteered for nam-to get the g.I. Bill.
Bullshit. You volunteered to beat that joyriding rap.
Man, inside ain't in the system.
It's right there inside of you.
You know what? I'm joining, man.
You what?
I'm going to join the black panther party.
Cy, man, you don't need to--
(Martin Luther King) ...In Vietnam
and challenge them with the alternative...
You be careful, all right?
Of conscientious objection.
And I say this morning that it is my...
My god.
Mom, when did they let you out?
Couple of hours ago. You ok?
I'm all right. How about you?
You don't look all right.
Whipping up on that cop like you was crazy.
That cop was trying to hit my mama.
I can't have that.
Come here.
No matter what you think...
What would your daddy say?
Both of us locked up in prison like two jailbirds.
I don't know.
Those your roughneck friends you met in jail over there?
Mom, it's not like you think.
Those fellas...
They all right.
They was out there trying to do something.
Well, those fellas, those black panthers,
I hear they're communist.
They don't even believe in god.
Ma, black folks been praying to god for 400 years.
Maybe it's time we tried something else.
You believe that?
I don't know.
I really don't.
I tell you one thing.
Them boys keep on the way they keeping on,
it's going to be a lot of trouble around here.
Those things don't work, believe me.
Don't I know it.
Come on in, agent Rodgers. Have a seat.
Always a pleasure to see you.
What can I do to be of help?
Well, it seems the bay area
has become a real hornet's nest for subversive activities.
Mr. Hoover would just like to reiterate
that the FBI is willing to help the authorities
in any way they can, strictly on an advisory basis, of course.
Of course. Well, I appreciate your help,
but I think we have things pretty well under control.
Just the usual bunch of kooks
that you guys have had under surveillance.
They're still making noise and smoking pot,
but nothing to worry about.
And what can you tell me about the black panther party for self defense?
They're just a bunch of shines
running around shaking their fists about some streetlight.
They're loud, but they're not dangerous.
Is it possible we can make a deal with them?
No. .. They're-- they're kids, mostly.
Idealists.
They think, actually, they're for real.
You want me to put a man on it?
I think that'd be a good idea.
Take care of that stomach.
Oh, yeah, by the way,
I would appreciate it if that man of yours
would keep a low profile.
(Music plays)
-Two bets. Two bets with me. -Whoo.
Hey, hey, hey!
Hey, what's up? What y'all want? Panama red?
I was wondering... Do you have any cocaine?
Some cocaine?
I can get you some cocaine, but you can't do it here.
Give me $20 and meet me back here in a hour.
Don't fuck around, white boy,
"cause this some serious shit.
You'll meet me here in an hour?
I said I'll meet you here.
Get out of here, man.
Motherfucker!
That's a stupid motherfucker.
Sabu, man, we can't have you pushing poison on the street.
Whitebread wanted some coke, so I just took his money.
It's a hustle. I'm out to get paid, brother.
I understand, but you understand what the panthers are saying.
You got to be part of the solution, not the problem.
All that's cool,
but let me get my money thing straight first.
Motherfucking panthers.
Y'all are worser than the police.
Ooh.
Hey, baby, why don't you join the black panther party?
Better yet, join me for dinner.
-Wait a minute! -Look at that!
Brown sugar!
No, thank you.
Girl, you make me want to slop you with some gravy!
Hey, look what you made me do!
What are you doing jivin' around,
looking at the young girl like that?
You supposed to be directing traffic.
I know.
Lookie here, lookie here!
How you doing, Casper?
Go away.
-You lost or something? -We won't hurt you.
-Oh! -Oh, man!
-Oh, you a police. -He the fuzz, man.
You couldn't be just a plain old white man.
Take us with you.
Come on, man.
Wash the car, man.
Come on, man! Hey.
Yeah, so, uh, she arrive next month.
So if you brothers interested...
Interested? We're trying to practice
what brother Malcolm preached.
Where's Bobby Seale?
I don't know. I'm looking at that fine sister.
Man, check this out. You going to love it.
We got a decision to make.
Those in San Fran call themselves black panthers, too.
Them brothers that don't do nothing
but put up paper saying black is beautiful?
He's one of them,
and they're bringing in sister Betty Shabazz next month
to speak at a rally and do an interview for rampart
they want us to help with security.
Anybody's going to protect Malcolm's legacy,
it better be us.
Let's go check it out.
Cook me up a burger or something.
Greetings, African brothers from across the bay.
We understand you would like to assist us
with sister Betty Shabazz's security.
That's right.
We'd be proud to provide escort for sister Shabazz.
How many men, how many guns you got?
(Chuckling)
Get the brothers some libation.
Me, too, while you at it.
Men...brother Dewey?
Huey.
No, thank you, sister.
Yeah. Louie.
You know what I'm saying, brother.
We, as a revolutionary vanguard,
are serious with our shit.
I assure you that brother lombard here
and our other brothers
will rise to the occasion.
Just be on time. We'll be prepared.
Right, brother lombard?
Uhuru.. Wambasa...Simba.
Freedom and work...Lion.
UMOJA, brothers.
Those orangutan-looking armchair revolutionaries
ain't fit for the name panthers.
We need to be ready to protect Betty Shabazz,
because them brothers sure as hell can't.
We need some guns.
We need some money first.
We only got two pistols.
Where we going to get the money to buy guns
you told them we had?
You're the chairman. I'm minster of defense. You figure it out.
I already did. That's what I was trying to tell you.
Here we go. Check it out.
Bought every copy in Chinatown.
Got a discount, too.
Bobby, quotations from chairman mao?
(Correcting pronunciation) Mao, brother, mao.
Man, these are books, man.
That's right. Going to sell them for a dollar.
Man, this what you did with my money?
Only a dollar. Get the lowdown here.
You want to get it from me.
If you're afraid of socialism, you're afraid of yourself.
Get the lowdown right there.
Mao Tse-Tung right here.
Only $1.00. Only $1.00.
Only a dollar.
Huey! Hey, Huey.
These guys right here want to join.
Sorry, guys.
The party feels it's important
for black people to do it for themselves,
so we're not signing up any white folks.
If you're down for what we're doing, we appreciate it.
Organize some righteous white folks.
I got a feeling we're going to need each other.
♪ Stop, children, what's that sound? ♪
♪ Everybody, look what's goin' down... ♪
I read through it about five times.
Only a dollar. Only a dollar.
Get your red book. Oh, thank you very much.
Be hip to the struggle. Only a dollar.
Hey, boy, this what they got you doing now?
Party needs the bread. Be hip to the struggle.
A dollar? Is that authentic?
This here is the real deal.
Straight from revolution hq.
-Far out. -Thank you.
Long live the revolution, brother.
All right, now.
The money's cool,
but what the party need even more
is brothers like you.
Hey, judge, man, we need you, man.
Look at all these-- all these words.
I don't even know half of them.
I'll tighten you up on the words, man.
But I got to pass on the revolution. I got class.
Let's hit cloud nine later.
Come on down to the office.
You really into this panther thing.
Hey, far out, man.
You know what, man?
You should come down, hear what Huey and Bobby got to say.
Yeah, maybe. Maybe.
Hey, man, fuck maybe.
Be there.
Like I said, maybe, man.
Maybe brother got an afro on. Maybe he got a process.
Maybe sister's hair is straightened.
Maybe it's natural.
Maybe a brother got a dashiki on
or maybe a sharp pimp suit.
Maybe she's prostituting herself.
Maybe she's teaching kids to read.
The pig will murder and brutalize you because you're black,
no matter what kind of bag you in.
We, the black panther party for self defense,
we're not anarchists.
The government's supposed to serve the people.
The government should serve the black community.
Black cops for black people.
Not the army that's occupying our community now.
Army, you say. Hold on. Hey, brother--
-this ain't Vietnam. - (Siren)
The army's right outside your door. They're cops.
Pigs. They're supposed to protect and serve.
They don't do nothing but patrol and control.
We call them pigs
because it's legal.
You call a pig a dirty mother-whatever,
he got an excuse to arrest you.
Don't give him no excuse.
To become a member of the black panther party for self defense,
you must know not only the oppressor's laws.
You have to know ours.
For instance...
No getting high on panther premises
or while carrying out panther duties.
When am I going to get a gun?
We don't have none yet.
No one gets one from us
until they've gone through the proper training.
That includes knowing the 10-point program.
(Bobby) We got to educate ourselves,
know our own history.
Man, I had history in school.
Not that colonial slavery bull they want you to know.
I'm talking about the real history--
from mao to fanon to Malcolm X.
And if you got trouble reading, we'll help you.
That's right.
Man, I'm out of here.
You niggers... crazy.
You got no guns.
All those interested in joining the panthers,
sign this paper here.
Clean this shit up.
Them white boys going to kick your asses.
You need to cut some of that hassle
to put them in their motherfucking coffins.
(Huey) Brother, sign this sheet.
I know you coming back.
You coming back, ain't you?
All right now.
What you got? Let me see.
That's the one.
What do you think?
Why do you think that is?
What is?
Every time a black man goes to lift his head,
there's another black man there to call him crazy.
You're Cy's Vietnam buddy, right?
Yeah.
So you know something about firepower.
It's a busted firing pin.
You want only the legal stuff, right?
Yeah, just the legit stuff.
Nothing wrong with that pistol.
The serial number's been filed.
Cop catches you with this, he'll say you either stole it
or offed somebody with it.
(Mr. Yang) I don't want no cops coming to me.
You got a permit to sell. We got cash. All legal.
They're worth a lot more.
I thought you were a revolutionary.
You got to cut us some slack.
You treat us right,
we be doing a whole lot of business.
All right?
Come on now.
That's it? Let's go.
(Judge) The ghetto being the ghetto,
the panthers had two obstacles to overcome--
ignorance and inertia.
The big is as they called them.
My brother, take a peek.
Take the party program, man.
♪ Express yourself
(siren wailing)
I hope you see what you're doing.
I see you with half a bra on your face.
Looking like a fucking pirate!
♪ All you got to do now ♪
♪ is express yourself ♪
Look, brother, only a dollar!
Rembrandt with the bro. All right.
♪ Whatever you do ♪
♪ do it good ♪
♪ whatever you do ♪
♪ do do do-doo do-doo ♪
♪ do it good ♪
♪ yeah ♪
♪ it's not what you look like ♪
♪ when you're doin' what you're doin' ♪
♪ it's when you're doin', when you're doin' ♪
♪ what you look like you're doin' ♪
♪ express yourself... ♪
(Bobby) That's what we call the panther patrol.
We see a brother getting busted, we check it out,
make sure the pigs don't beat on him.
We get him a lawyer, bail.
It's like we're policing the police.
Damn straight.
It messes up their cut of the drug trade.
Dig it.
♪ Every day ♪
♪ there's somethin' new ♪
♪ you pull out your bag... ♪
Aah!
(Choking)
Hey! It's the police and brothers with guns.
Get some backup!
(Groaning)
Get the hell out of here. Get out of here.
(Cop) So, uh, Huey, what's your telephone number?
I confirmed my address. That's all I'm required to do.
We ain't broken no law.
What are you doing with that gun?
Let me see that rifle.
No! It's private property.
According to California law,
we got a constitutional right to bear arms.
Go on about your business!
Wait! Wait!
You ain't got to go nowhere!
This is your business! Stay right here!
The law says, you stay at a reasonable distance--
that's 8 to 10 feet--
you got aright to observe the police
carrying out their duties!
And you're standing 22 feet away from this...
Man! There ain't no law being broken!
Right. Stay where you are.
You ain't got to go nowhere!
Take part in the protest.
Learn about the black panthers.
Is that gun loaded, boy?
The fish and game law clearly states
it's unlawful to carry ammunition
ina shotgun or a rifle in a vehicle.. Pig!
(Murmuring)
Refer to him as officer.
Don't refer to him as boy.
Well, is it loaded?
It wasn't, officer. But now it is.
(Cocking guns)
(Man) Whoa, that's a bad-ass nigger!
What do those guns mean?
The black panther party declares
you try to brutalize our community
or take our weapons, we'll shoot you.
Get back!
(Woman) Jesus, I think I done died and gone to heaven!
(Man) Hallelujah!
All right. Hold it.
Put it there.
The brother had his rifle up like this.
Called the police a pig.
The police couldn't do nothing.
The brother was speaking law shit.
This here's our 10-point program.
These brothers wasn't scared of shit!
The police couldn't do a damn thing!
You ain't never seen nothing like it.
"Point 1--we want freedom.
"We want the power to determine the destiny of our black community.
"2--we want full employment for our people.
"3--we want an end to the robbery
"by capitalists of our black community."
Christ, they're asking for reparations.
They couldn't have thought this up themselves.
Yeah, sounds like the constitution,
maybe some bill of rights.
Inspector Brimmer, this is no joke.
During your surveillance, did you see any communists
or outside agitators?
I saw colored people handing out food,
having meetings, painting,
and patrolling the neighborhood
and having more meetings.
They are undermining the United States of America!
And you, inspector, are not taking your job seriously.
Now, come on, Rodgers.
Now, Dorsett, if the black panthers
remain in your jurisdiction,
fundamental changes have to be made.
Like what?
Like you, inspector Brimmer,
are not sitting in your car anymore.
I think it's time you took a little more active involvement.
(Tires screech)
Another busy day keeping the streets safe?
What are you doing out so late?
I like to watch over my client's investments.
We really should address that business expansion.
-Look, I don't think-- -that's a nice car.
It's nice.
You remember who paid for it, right? Huh?
We'll talk again...
Soon.
(Cy sighs)
Did you see us on grove street
up on the cops with that law shit?
Man, it was perfect!
It was all right.
Give me a lift, man?
You got it. Berkeley campus?
Man...no.
Let's go to panther headquarters.
We could hang out like we used to.
Ha ha! My brother!
Ohh!
I got to take care of you, kid.
Going to be down now, huh?
Am I down?
I'm down like four flats on a dump truck.
See, I'm p-d ho.
That's short for "pimp down home."
I saw you panthers on grove street.
Everybody know y'all got the finest pussy.
So sign the nigger up.
As long as I can keep my job,
I want to be a panther.
Whitey drops napalm on the yellow man,
slaughters and betrays the red man,
enslaves and mutilates the black man,
and fucks with anybody else he can.
- I got it. -You got this under control?
All right.
Thanks, brother. We'll be in touch.
-Judge is joining us. -Glad to have you.
(Bobby) Congratulations, my brother.
This makes it official.
Come in clean, sober, and ready to work.
Community's the focal point.
I got that.
10-point program.
Huey wants to see you.
Me?
Yeah, you.
Said he thought you'd be coming by.
(TV reporter) In other national news,
president Johnson's press secretary
has emphatically denied the rumor that the white house
is considering ordering the bombing of Cambodia
by our strategic bombers.
The Vietcong have further attacked...
Welcome.
Brother judge, have you decided to get down with us?
(Clearing throat)
Yeah, I'm down.
You were very helpful with those guns.
Your soldier shit-- bad ass.
I'd hoped to be done with all that.
You're lucky to be back.
Most brothers die on the front lines.
Seems like that's what they're there for.
Mind if I ask you a question?
Where'd you get the money to go to school?
G.i. Bill,
plus I got some shrapnel in my leg.
It's no problem anymore, but...
I still get my disability checks.
We hit a land mine.
I thought a land mine was fatal.
It was for the two guys in front of me.
Oh, you volunteered or something?
Reform school.
The court said that or the military.
(Siren wailing)
If I'd stayed here, I'd end up drunk or dead.
Why all the questions, man?
Security.
Security for sister Betty Shabazz
has got to be tight.
Arriving passenger Mrs. Crane,
please see the ticket agent
at the airline reservation counter.
Mrs. Crane,
please see the ticket agent
at the airline reservation counter.
Bobby, take him and go inside.
Yeah!
What would you tell brothers and sisters to do
in following brother Malcolm's footsteps?
Well, I would say that...
Malcolm lives in each of us,
and we must all work together for the community,
like those brothers out there are doing.
Sister Shabazz, we thank you.
We're honored that you've chosen San Francisco
for your first public appearance
since the martyrdom of Malcolm.
Do you feel the fervor of the movement was lost with the death of Malcolm?
No. The thirst for freedom wasn't extinguished
with his murder.
The desire for Liberty is manifested daily...
The police is pulling up outside.
Fall in.
Let's go, little Bobby.
Brother Huey, no pictures, please.
-Yes, ma'am. -Thank you.
I'm not going. I'm not going.
Let's put this gun away.
I ain't going to jail.
(Reporter) There she is.
Hey, hey, hey.
Miss Shabazz, do you fear for your life?
No pictures today.
Back up!
Who shot Malcolm?
Do you think the FBI was linked--
no statement.
Do you think farrakhan was involved?
Move back! You're blocking her path!
Back up!
(Sirens wailing)
Hey, hey, back up.
-Get away from this car! -Leave the sister alone!
Miss Shabazz, a statement, please!
Sir, for the last time, will you back up?
I just want to ask a question. Miss Shabazz,
do you know who killed your husband?
He assaulted me! Arrest him!
It'd be you I'd arrest.
Not today.
Huey, come on, man.
Lower the guns. We don't want trouble.
Right. Put the guns away.
Be a smart nigger.
You try to violate our constitutional rights,
we will defend ourselves, pig!
Aren't you going to do anything?
They're not breaking any laws, asshole.
Oh.
All right. Step out!
(Officer) Step back, folks. Step back.
We'll go ahead and call it in.
(Reporter) What was miss Shabazz doing here?
(Reporter) Is it true the panthers are dedicated...
To Malcolm X?
(All shouting questions)
Ah!
Whoo!
(Bobby) Did y'all see that jive punk panther?
(Laughing)
He dove under his desk so fast,
he dropped his gun.
Did you see? Damn sad.
It surprised me they even showed up with guns.
Dig it.
They ain't fit for the name panthers.
Whoo! What it be, judge?
Nobody got hurt. Sister Betty's safe.
Today was good. Cheer up.
That tall punk panther's gun...
It wasn't loaded.
I bet the rest weren't either.
Shit!
All right. Let's find out.
♪ You gotta say, yeah ♪
♪ cause no matter what... ♪
Brother, a leader must have courage of simba.
Lion, hmm?
This is only the beginning.
Refreshments, brother Bakar?
No. No.
Brother Bakar, you should have been there.
The pigs laid down to us.
We're finally getting respect,
just like you prophesied.
Sister Alma.
-More libation, please. -Yes, brother.
Like I said, brother, we are the vanguard.
Once cleaver's story comes out, then you'll see--
hey, man, what the fuck are you doing?
Malcolm X's widow's life was on the line today,
and your guns weren't loaded.
A gun doesn't need to be loaded.
Tell that to Malcolm.
Wait, brother!
You wait!
You and your punk panthers are counterrevolutionary!
You got three choices--
1--merge with us, follow our rules,
2--change your name,
or 3--we annihilate your ass--
you listen, pretty ghetto boy!
You're a long way from Oakland.
And you're not Malcolm. Fuck you!
(Huey) You're the kind of brother we don't need!
You get other brothers killed!
You going to change your name?
Bakar, tell him you'll do it.
Tell him you'll do it.
Oh. Ok...
But only for the revolution.
Uhh!
Uhh! Help me up.
Move out! Move out!
(Lombard) You ok, brother Bakar?
(Bakar) See? This--this is counterrevolutionary.
Like crabs in a barrel, pulling each other down.
(Lombard) Brother Jamal, where you going, man?
(Bakar) Forget him.
-Brother Jamal? -Forget him!
(Music plays)
Yeah!
I need you to do something for us.
Staying alive might depend on it.
We're going to let the pigs infiltrate us.
Their spy is going to be our spy, too.
Me?
You got a bunch of people signing up.
Mean niggers like Tyrone here. Why me?
You fit the profile, brother.
You're exactly the type of nigger they think they can trust.
(Clinks bottles)
1--we want freedom and power to determine the destiny
of our black community.
2--we want full employment for our people.
3--we want an end to the robbery by white men
of our black community.
4--we want decent housing
fit for shelter of human beings...
Everybody talks about what needs to be done to uplift the race.
You brothers are doing something about that...
I want to do it with you...
If you'll have me.
Alma ...
Uh...
- Don't think-- -what you mean?
I'm black, ain't I?
I care about improving the plight of my people.
Or you figure oppression
stops with that thing dangling between your legs?
Hey, I'm with you, sister, but, uh--
but nothing.
We want full-fledged membership
in the black panther party.
And none of that "ok, sugar,
"as long as you play the background,
getting my beer and rubbing my feet"
bullshit either. You dig?
My beautiful black sisters,
as long as you're down with the 10-point program...
Sign up.
(Judge) Like ma always said,
"the lord may not come when you call him,
"but he's always right on time."
(Black panther) 6--we want all black men to be exempt from military service.
7--we want an immediate end...
All power... all power...
To the people! Right now!
All power! All power!
(Bobby) We want the government's power in the hands of the people,
which means you and I.
That's why we're saying all power to the people.
All of us equally united.
All races. All colors.
White power to white people.
Red power to red people.
Brown power to brown people.
Yellow power to yellow people.
Black power to black people.
See? All power to the people.
Y'all dig?
Repeat after me-- all power to the people.
All power to the people.
Now, put your fist up. All power to the people.
There you go. Yeah, I like this.
9--we want all black people
brought to trial to be tried in accordance...
(Judge) The black community
was starting to see things the panthers' way.
Slowly it was beginning to solidify behind us.
Black was beautiful, man.
Fast, classy, ass-kickin',
and name-takin', too.
(Black panther) As our main political objective,
a United Nations-supervised plebiscite
held throughout the black colony
in which only black colonial subjects
will be allowed to participate
for the purpose of determining the will of black people
as to their national destiny.
Go!
♪ We got to get more power to the people ♪
♪ for god's sake ♪
♪ why don't you get ♪
♪ more power to the people? ♪
♪ 5-6-7, open up the pearly gates ♪
♪ well, there ain't no time to wonder why ♪
Only a dollar.
10 dimes. Get them. They're going fast.
You're judge, right? I'm Brimmer.
We need to talk-- off the record.
I got nothing to say to you on or off any record.
You do.
We can talk here or go downtown.
Didn't your mother assault a police officer
at 55th and market not long ago?
Of course, uh, judge, this is all just conjecture.
Let's walk and talk. Come on.
Here's the deal.
You help me out sometimes,
and I'll make sure everything stays clean.
You can be a big help to your country.
We both fought for america--Korea, nam.
We both know america's got problems.
It's still the land of opportunity.
Equal opportunity.
I know what i'm talking about, judge.
My folks were immigrants-- sharecroppers.
They pulled themselves up by the bootstraps.
You believe all that, don't you?
I wouldn't be a cop if I didn't.
Soldier, without law and order,
these streets would just be chaos,
and you know it.
Now, look here, judge,
we don't ask something for nothing.
We know that college is expensive these days.
We'd like to help out.
What do you say?
(Softly) I'm listening.
Pardon?
I'm listening.
You do more than listen.
You call me by Wednesday, all right? That number.
Ok?
A couple of bucks in it for you.
All right. See you, judge.
Good morning, Mr. Allan.
Power to the people.
Ok, Tyrone.
Hey, brother, they tried to recruit me just like you said.
Yeah.
Probably not the only one that they came after.
Stall a little so they think you're for real.
Eat up your food. Get some nutrition.
Tyrone, you think feeding our children will make the man jumpy?
I don't know.
Seems to me black folks is getting mighty uppity--
feeding their kids breakfast,
trying to take their destiny in their own hands.
Makes me wonder what this world's coming to.
Officer, no! Don't shoot!
Freeze, damn it!
I didn't do anything!
-Turn around now! - Didn't do anything!
(Gunshots)
Police lied.
They said he was trying to steal a car.
My baby wouldn't steal no car.
Mama...
Mama, these brothers here are from the black panther party for self defense.
I asked them over from Oakland.
I thank y'all for coming to grieve with us.
Police won't tell us nothing.
They been shooting black men around here like we going out of style.
Lord have mercy.
My boy didn't do nothing.
Can't somebody do something?
Yes, ma'am.
We came to do something.
-What do we want? -Justice!
-All power to the people! -All power to the people!
The police say brother Denzil dowell was trying to steal a car.
(Murmuring)
That he leaped a fence
and ran through a field of broken glass and oil,
but when we checked, the bottom of his shoes were clean.
If any of y'all knew Denzil,
you knew he was in a car accident, that he walked with a limp.
He couldn't have hopped any fence.
The police report says quite clearly
Denzil was shot three times,
but the coroner's report says
Denzil dowell was shot six times.
Two of those shots were in his armpits, brothers and sisters.
You know why that is?
Brother Denzil had his hands up.
-What do we want? -Justice!
My brother, we need more programs.
They're in the car.
Amen, brothers and sisters.
Let's bow our heads and pray.
I missed your phone call.
Should have told me about this.
I'm just playing rough cop
so your soul brothers won't know we're partners.
Justice!
-What do we want? -Justice!
Come on, man.
No. It's just harassment.
We got momentum, brother.
(Crowd) All power to the people.
You're not coming in here with no gun.
The firearm is in plain view,
therefore, it's legal by California statute.
This is public property paid for by the people.
Over my dead body.
That's your call, pig.
We didn't come for bloodshed.
We come for justice,
but don't be pushing us too far.
Boys, please.
(Cheering)
If the police department has nothing to hide,
why couldn't the dowell family observe the body?
If he bled to death,
why does the coroner's report say he was shot to death?
We demand an investigation into Denzil dowell's death
and the pattern of brutality
against the black citizens of Richmond.
The police department has conducted its own inquest
and concluded that no misconduct occurred.
As far as a pattern of brutality,
the charge is ridiculous.
What do you call four dead black men in six months?
I call it the police doing their duty under the law.
You got a problem with any law,
you take it to the legislature.
I think the pig might have a point.
Get the hell out of my office!
Look here, the law's changing.
You won't be able to carry them guns much longer.
We understand each other, judge?
Yeah.
I expect to hear from you real soon.
Huey Newton takes a crap, I want to know about it.
Otherwise, I'm going to come looking for you.
I won't be near as friendly as I was today.
Judge, you got to remember something--
you got a lot at stake here.
Look, the panthers are going to lose.
The only question is are you going to lose along with them?
You're going to lose your future, your mother, your life.
Now think about it.
All right, soldier, go on. Get out of here.
Go on.
How y'all doing out there?
All right! You know, it's interesting.
Just as black people start to exercise their right to bear arms,
the pigs want to change the law.
We ain't going to make it easy for them
to have no unarmed targets, are we?
(Crowd chanting) No!
Have a good time and enjoy yourselves
'cause this here is your community. It's our community.
It's a beautiful thing.
That's right.
(Crowd applauding)
Just do me one favor.
Save me some of that barbecue out there.
All right, listen to the band, have a good time. Love ya.
(Music playing)
♪ Oh-ho oh-ho ♪
♪ stand, in the end ♪
♪ you'll still be you ♪
♪ one that's done all the things ♪
♪ you set out to do ♪
♪ stand ♪
♪ there's a cross for you to bear ♪
♪ things to go through ♪
♪ if you're goin' anywhere ♪
♪ ooh ♪
♪ stand... ♪
Wonderful picnic. Wonderful picnic.
What a day.
We just need them 10 extra guns, we'll be straight.
For the 10 brothers coming later.
All right. Solid.
-Right on. -Huey,
we got
including that reporter from, uh, ramparts, cleave that's 30.
(Inaudible)
This is going to be a colossal event.
We're going to turn the capital out.
-Far out, baby. -Far out.
Cool it Bobby, man.
What it be, brother?
You ain't going with us, Huey.
We're the leadership, you and me.
There ain't enough of us as it is.
The pigs don't know how many panthers there are.
If both of us show up, they might put 2 and 2 together.
We got them guessing thousands.
Ok. I'll go, you stay.
Oh, no. We took a vote.
You're too risky. It's decided. You stay.
Go on and mow your mama's lawn like you promised.
(Laughter)
All right. All right, I'll stay. You go.
Judge...
Want a beer?
Hey, judge, where you been, man?
I saw the pigs rousting you. You ok.?
Yeah, man. It was just harassment.
My driver's license expired.
Pigs, man, they be grabbing at anything.
-So what's the pig's name? -(Clears throat)
Brimmer.
You got to stay cool on this,
icy-goddamn-cool.
You just became the strongest weapon we got.
Let me guess. That pig wants you to call him
and tell him what we're doing.
Yep.
You're going to do just that,
but I'm going to tell you what to feed the pig.
You all right with this?
Yeah, yeah, I guess.
Hey, man, do any of the other brothers know about this?
Shit's getting pretty thick, Huey.
(Huey Newton) I got a feeling
it's going to get a whole lot thicker...
For all of us.
Well, isn't that nice.
What exactly is your name?
(Reporters clamoring)
Are you kids all from the same area?
Governor, what about the mulford act?
Remember the three rs--
reading, writing, arithmetic--
and you can become lawyers, doctors.
That's what america's all about.
Come on, let's go.
Is this a militant action?
Are the panthers storming the capitol?
Absolutely not. We're here to send a message.
Black panther party calls upon Americans
to take careful note of the racist California legislation now considering
the mulford act,
aimed to keep black people disarmed and powerless
while the racist police agencies throughout this country
intensify the terror, brutality, murder, oppression
of black people.
Now I got a question for you.
Which way is the state assembly?
Right up there on the second floor, sir.
Good man. All power to the people.
Call the police. Call the police now.
You guys can't...
Wait a minute, guys. You can't come in here.
We're here to observe the assembly.
You trying to deny us our constitutional rights?
My god!
(Panicked clamoring)
(Man) Don't shoot us.
(Reporter) 29 armed negroes stormed into the state capitol today.
Bobby Seale, the black panther leader,
called the new antigun proposal racist.
Governor Reagan had this to say.
(Reagan) The black panthers are a militant fringe group
who are using fear and intimidation
against the Oakland police department.
The black panther party made a wrong turn
and accidentally walked onto the assembly floor
instead of the visitors' gallery.
The black panthers are not anti-white.
We anti-oppression.
You can't fight racism with racism.
The law the black panthers broke
is disturbing the assembly.
26 black panthers have been arrested in Sacramento.
(Judge) We lost Bobby. He served six months
for taking that wrong turn.
The mulford act eventually passed.
We lost the right to carry guns.
One thing we did get was worldwide attention.
Yeah, disciplined niggers marching with guns,
that got everybody's attention.
The black panther party for self-defense
claims to be the voice of the black community.
However, analysis of our field report
reveals a high level of organizational skills.
We've been down this road before.
What we have here
is a classic example of outside agitation.
Black terrorists on the floor of a state capitol?
I won't have it.
This is obviously an organization
funded and masterminded by some communist power
hostile to the United States.
The only question is which one?
Before we crush these ungrateful coons,
find out who their real boss is.
-Yes, sir. -Gentlemen.
We're going for a ride. Get in the back seat.
We ain't got all day.
Why didn't you tell me about this party at the capitol?
(Judge) The shit was spontaneous.
You sassing me?
You told the press. You didn't tell me.
Remember who you're working for.
Whatever you say, man.
You little piece of shit!
(Siren wailing)
I'll get your black ass. Sass me, will you?
Get out of the fucking car!
"Whatever you say, inspector Brimmer."
You're fucking right whatever I say.
I'm going to make sure your wiry head's screwed on straight.
You know how easy it would be for you to disappear?
All these drivers see is a white cop
and a black convict in handcuffs, you understand?
What do you want, man?
Get your ass out of neutral.
Set the panthers on a plate for me.
Set them up for armed robbery.
They don't operate like that.
You just do it.
Like your man says, "by any means necessary."
Ok! All right! All right!
All right.
Something for your tuition.
Get back in the fucking car.
What's happening, bro?
Where's judge? I ain't seen him around lately.
Between school, his job, and the panthers,
he's been running kind of raw.
I got to take a leak.
I know this fool ain't selling drugs in our neighborhood.
Let me handle this.
I've been kicking his ass since high school.
I'll see you out at the meeting, all right?
What do you got to sell?
Every black man ain't a dope dealer.
What did he mean by that?
Stop pushing that fucking poison in the neighborhood!
You're poisoning your own people, fool!
Fuck that black power shit!
I'm down with green power and fuck you!
Fuck you, all right?
Don't make me come back here, all right?
All right?
(Shower running)
Cy, is that you?
I'll be out in a minute, man.
Hey, hey, hey.
Officer, I was-- I wasn't doing nothing.
Come here. Come here.
Panthers turned into some real shitheels, ain't they?
Yes, sir. They're getting all high and mighty.
If this was my neighborhood,
I'd stand up for myself, if you know what I mean.
Yes, sir.
(Huey) Saw the pigs rousting you, man. You ok.?
(Judge) Yeah, man. It was just harassment.
My driver's license expired.
Yeah, right.
(Huey) All right, y'all, look around you.
We got new members joining every day.
Newly appointed members from our Newark chapter
visiting from the east, stand.
I'd like to introduce another new member to you--
the author of soul on ice and a respected journalist.
I'm proud to introduce our new minister of information,
Eldridge cleaver.
You're all well aware of the chains that we as a people bear.
The chains of slavery, of second-class citizenship.
But there are other more invisible chains--
chains of not speaking your mind,
out of fear of reprisal by the man,
the silencing of our black voices.
I'm here to tell you we have a voice, dig it?
(All murmuring in agreement)
(Woman) That's right.
I'd like to prove it to you.
Everybody repeat after me.
Fuck Ronald Reagan.
(Laughter)
I'm serious.
Fuck Ronald Reagan.
(Crowd) Fuck Ronald Reagan. Fuck Ronald Reagan.
-Fuck Ronald Reagan. -Fuck Ronald Reagan.
Fuck Ronald Reagan.
-Fuck Ronald Reagan. -Fuck Ronald Reagan.
Fuck Ronald Reagan.
(Crowd continues chanting)
Feel good, don't it?
-Yeah. -Yeah. All right.
Amazing how speaking your mind can free your soul.
Thank you, brother Eldridge,
minister of information.
Sister, hey.
Was you paying attention?
The pigs must have planted her
so they could bust us.
I'll handle this.
I'm ok. I'll be all right.
Come on, sister, let's go.
And report to your cadre leader.
Don't forget we got our red book here on sale.
Each one teach one.
We've got to reach out to our brothers on the street.
That's what the 10-point program is all about.
Brother Huey, can I talk to you?
Yeah, certainly.
Alone.
Not right now, brother.
I'm talking some business with the minister of information.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow.
Ok, so, I don't know if it's exactly...
Can't you see you're jeopardizing the movement?
The pigs are looking for any excuse
to come down on us.
I want my baby to be free.
I don't want my baby to be no junkie.
That's what we all want.
You ain't going to hurt me, is you?
You're hurting yourself
and that baby, too.
Sister, you got to stop killing us.
You got to stop killing that child.
Judge, your information is vital to us, man.
How vital could it be, man?
We got chapters all over now.
This is panther international headquarters.
The police will start running games here first.
Who'll straighten out the other brothers
when they get on my ass?
Like the manual says, "information is disseminated...
"On a need-to-know basis."
Here's another donation from the pigs.
If the pigs knew they were subsidizing the panthers...
They want a lot for their money, man.
They want a felony with violent intent.
If they don't get it, they'll kill me.
If they do, the panthers will kill me.
Man, I hear that.
But I would rather die on my feet
than live on my knees.
Come here.
Pig fucking infiltrator!
Ease up, sister!
Sell out!
What the hell are you trying to prove?
This boot-licking house nigger
signed up about a month ago.
Says his name's Matty.
I call him spy.
Oh!
Motherfucker gave the pigs the license number
-of every panther car! -No!
Show us some justice, Tyrone.
Pig.
Is this the finger you ratted on us to the pigs with?
Cut me some slack.
-(Bone cracks) -Aah!
Fucker! Get the fuck down!
Where you going? Where you going?
You don't like to see a traitor get hurt?
I wonder why that is.
You got something to say, you say it.
If anything happens to Huey--
brother judge, it's Cy, man, he's been shot.
Who did this to you, Cy? Who did it to you, Cy?
Tell me.
Who?
Who, brother, who? Talk to me.
(Gasping)
Fight now! Fight! Now fight! Fight, brother!
I'm with you! I'm right here!
I'm here!
Who did it to you? Who did it to you, Cy?
Who, baby?
I'll get an ambulance!
Tell me, Cy! Just tell me who!
Just tell me! No!'No! No! No!
No! No!
No! Cy, no!
I'm sorry!
-Inspector Brimmer. -(Judge) Yeah, it's me.
Judge, hold on. Is your phone safe?
Who fucking cares, man?
You cops killed Cy.
Before you bastards kill anybody else,
I'll give you your fucking setup, all right?
-That make you happy? -Judge.
Judge nothing. You shut up, and you listen.
I'm working with you. That's what you wanted.
-You got me now. -All right.
You got me now.
Listen up. It's going down right on time.
What's up with you, man?
Nothing, man.
I asked you a question.
Something on your mind, brother?
My best friend is stone-dead, brother.
I'm sorry.
Hey, I'm sorry, too. I got to take a leak.
Bobby, pull over at this gas station here.
If you want gas, my nephew will be back in about 10 minutes,
as usual.
-Where's your bathroom? -It's out back.
Open the register and give me the money.
Don't hurt me.
I'm not fucking around, man. Move!
I don't want to hurt you.
Move!
(Siren)
How long can a piss take?
What the fuck!
Pigs, man!
What the fuck!
Out of the car.
Just take it easy. Take it easy!
Now! I said now. Everyone, stop.
We ain't broken no laws.
Don't him them in the faces!
I want them recognizable.
Easy, boy. I'll blow you away.
We didn't do nothing!
Fascist pigs, stop harassing us!
You stuck up this filling station. We got a witness.
What kind of bullshit is that?
Cuff him. I'll get him.
Judge! Judge!
Judge, it's me, Brimmer. Get out of here!
How dare you? Get back there!
Today's arrest exposes the panthers for what they truly are.
Common criminals.
Yes, we have a group of so-called revolutionaries in custody,
caught red-handed robbing a local business.
As soon as our witness gives us a positive identification,
we'll be filing charges of armed robbery with intent to kill.
Sir, was anyone hurt?
I have no further comments.
Just some shines, huh?
Now they got their own newspaper.
Holy mother of god. When'd they start this?
That comes out next week.
A year ago, they didn't exist.
Now they got chapters all over the country.
Hoover's looking into reactivating the internment camps.
He's not going to let this peace movement
and this black power thing get out of--
yeah.
Follow me.
It's his nephew's gas station.
You kidding me?
He stands in for the same 15 minutes every morning.
(Officer) Number one, take your hat off.
Hey. Is he serious?
Ahem...
Boss, the man's blind.
He can't see anything.
What are you telling me?
Blind as a bat, sir.
Couldn't I.D. his own mother.
He just stands in for his nephew during break periods.
Retire.
All right, boys, turn to your left.
Move on out. Back to the holding tank.
(Reporter) Governor Reagan added that such acts of lawlessness
will not be tolerated.
(Reagan) I just want to applaud the efforts
of the local police authorities
to suppress the violence...
Whoa, whoa.
Whoa, soldier boy, whoa.
Hold on now.
...all in the name of peace.
Look at that--
beating the shit out of their own young folk.
You need some of this.
You need to calm down.
-No. I'm all right. -What's wrong?
Black panther party members were freed...
-Panthers done got out. -For lack of witnesses
in that filling station robbery.
Those your people, right?
This take the heat of you any?
I'm not sure, but I'll find out.
Freedom now!
I got to go. I'll catch you.
Hey, judge. Judge, judge, judge.
Man, I should've told you this before,
but, you know...
-Fuck it. -What?
Man, it was...
It was Sabu who killed Cy.
There's your 3 right there.
You got to be a card-carrying member
of the stupid revolution.
Stay the fuck away from me.
I told your ass.
Where is he?
I don't know, man.
From what I hear,
he done packed up his bags and went out of town.
Why didn't you tell me?
I didn't want nobody to think I was no snitch.
How would that look on me?
Know what I'm saying?
Yeah, man, I know.
Stay good, man.
You be good, too, baby.
Where the hell is judge?
Brother judge needs our support right now, not our suspicion.
Oh, this is beautiful.
Folks ain't never seen no truth like this.
Huey, check this out.
What's with all this, Eldridge?
White media has controlled our image.
We got to let the brothers know
what we're about ourselves.
That's what our newspaper will do.
A lot of brothers don't read. Dig?
We got to give them a stronger image.
Tyrone, get your ass in here.
This picture will be worth a thousand words.
Thought about that peace and freedom party thing?
They really want to hook up with us.
We've been invited to their rally.
What does brother Jamal think?
I think poor black folks are fighting for their humanity
and poor white folks are fighting for more money.
White boys can get a haircut and join the establishment,
but us-- we're black forever.
Sister Alma, share your thoughts.
The FBI's leaning on our printer
looking for an excuse to cancel the contract.
Deadline for next issue of the paper's tomorrow.
Circulation is up-- 125,000 and rising.
We're seizing the time.
The time is what sartre called
the moment the match is put to the fuse.
Now, is the hand holding the match black or white?
All right. No full-fledged alliance,
but we will accept the rally invitation.
Right on.
Brother Eldridge, set it up.
Look like a warrior.
(Crowd chanting) Hell, no! We won't go!
Hell, no! We won't go!
A few days ago,
we came to these steps to protest.
We were 4,000 then,
and the cops beat us down.
(Booing)
Today...
We are 10,000!
(Cheering)
10,000 different voices in unison
saying one thing...
(Tires screech)
That you cannot have an imperialistic war abroad
and social peace at home.
Suspect jumped the backyard fence,
heading east on market.
In pursuit.
So it is with this unity, this purpose, in mind,
ladies and gentlemen...
He's cutting through the park.
Defense minister of the black panther party--
Huey Newton.
Huey! Huey!
The black panther party's proud to be here today.
(Crowd cheers)
Not far from here,
brother Bobby Seale's locked down...
(Crowd boos)
A victim of the tyranny we feel here at home.
That same tyranny is at work
many thousands of miles from here in Vietnam.
Thanks a lot, asshole.
That "blind man" thing was real cute.
(Huey) The only question you can ask is...
I got him.
...why should the black man
go fight the yellow man for the white man?
The black panther party
is opposed to the war in Vietnam.
We know our war is here at home
against hard drugs in the community,
against unemployment.
That, brothers and sisters, is our war.
Power to the people!
Hell, no! We won't go!
-What the hell's this? -Inspector Brimmer,
could you come in here a minute?
What's going on, Charlie?
The feds-- they're moving in.
Oh, lord.
Come on, guys, let's go.
Have a seat, inspector, please.
Gentlemen, this is pruitt.
He'll be working with us from here on in.
But--but isn't he...
Special people for special problems.
I didn't know the FBI-
there are many things you don't know.
Shall we get to the point?
The black panthers have united
with other organizations sponsored by the communists
to undermine our efforts in Vietnam.
In the opinion of Mr. Hoover,
the black panther party is public enemy number one.
They have, quite simply,
guaranteed their own extinction.
Jesus.
I don't even need to say
your department's handling of the black panthers--
in particular, inspector Brimmer's
so-called undercover operation--
has been a complete travesty.
Memo from the commissioner, et cetera,
backing Mr. Hoover's decision
to place the black panther party
and their subversive activities
under the full jurisdiction of the bureau.
Move it!
Move! Move! Move! Move!
This pattern of harassment
is going on against the black panther party
across the country.
On Friday, the watts office of the black panther party
was bombed and demolished.
Last week, the Des Moines office was bombed.
They raided the San Francisco office.
They shoot us, shoot tear gas in our office,
and drag people off to jail.
Physically you look black,
but you don't know who you are.
You don't know where you're from.
You've been given a slave name and a slave mentality.
A slave hates hisself, hates his skin.
A slave hates his natural kinky hair.
Give a gun to a slave, he'll kill his brother.
How long are you going to cry
and blame your oppressor
before you get up off your knees?
Know the 10 points.
If you don't, you do not know
what you're living and dying for.
You got to make a decision, stand up against the pigs.
That's what the panthers are doing here,
they can do anything they want to us.
I am...
A revolutionary.
After that good doctor is gone,
there'll never be another black Messiah
unless we create him.
What's your name, boy?
-Five. -What's your name?
I said, five.
What's your name, punk?
I said five.
What's your name?
What's with the name?
I keep saying five, like the fifth amendment,
and this cop's getting pissed.
There ain't much he can do to me
so he give me a ticket for littering
on account of the paper he ripped out of my hand.
They can't do too much with that many eyes on them.
They ain't nothing but racist cops.
(Siren)
Shit.
Well, well, well.
If it isn't the great Huey p. Newton.
License and registration.
Get out of the car.
California law does not require a driver to leave a vehicle.
Out of the fucking car!
You got a problem with English, boy?
You, too.
What's the problem, officer?
I'm not resisting arrest,
nor am I armed.
Any use of force on your part is illegal.
Let's go for a walk.
Am I under arrest?
(Gunshots)
Huey!
Oh, my god!
Son of a--
(moaning)
This doctor is all prepared for surgery.
He has internal bleeding.
O.k. What have we got here?
Gunshots-- multiple.
Get out of the way!
Back off! That's a cop killer.
You killed a cop, boy!
(Angry shouting)
(Painful screaming)
Get them out of here!
Get back!
(Chanting Muslim prayer)
All right. Move it now.
Come on.
Stay strong, my brother.
(Inmate) Power to the people, Bobby.
(Inmate #2) Right on, man.
All right, man, don't let them break you.
Where's the lawyer?
Right down there.
Can he free Huey?
If anybody can, he's the man.
Where's he at?
It's going to work.
Just make sure the focus stays on freeing Huey.
We can't make enough of these things.
We got movie stars calling up to help.
Brothers and sisters, it's nation time.
I wish we didn't need these buttons.
I wish Huey was here.
Me, too.
You sure about that, my brother?
Look at this.
(Judge) You could jail a revolutionary,
but you couldn't jail the revolution.
Despite the pigs and the FBI,
our power base in the black community
continued to grow.
Even mom came around.
-Well? -Serious now.
I come out of that wig.
Eldridge, come meet my mother.
Ma, this is Eldridge cleaver.
Eldridge cleaver, this is my mother.
Here's the guy I told you about.
Be proud of your son.
Say it loud--
I'm black, and I'm proud.
Everything in here--
butter, salt, grease--
you are the malnutrition panther, that's what you are.
Y'all need to be eating more.
Running around here like scarecrows.
You don't eat, you don't sleep.
Take this hat off at the table.
Ain't no way to live.
It's good to be skinny--
easier to run from fat pigs.
(Reporter) We bring you the following special report.
Martin Luther King Jr. was killed tonight,
shot as he stood alone on the balcony of his hotel room.
He died in a hospital.
Last night, he said this...
(Martin Luther King Jr.) I just want to do god's will.
He never hurt nobody.
He has allowed me to go up to the mountain,
and I've looked over
and I've seen the promised land.
I may not get there with you,
but I want you to know tonight
that we as a people
will get to the promised land.
(Cheering)
So I am happy tonight.
I'm not worried about anything.
I'm not fearing any man.
Mine eyes have seen the glory
of the coming of the lord.
♪ Hey, Joe ♪
♪ a-where you goin' ♪
♪ with that gun in your hand?... ♪
(Judge) When king's message of nonviolence
ended in his violent death,
folks finally realized
that they couldn't pray their way to freedom--
just what the panthers had said all along.
America was burning.
Nationwide, our enrollment doubled in two weeks.
No, no. No more words!
No more words.
No more sitting.
No more praying, waiting for the pigs to kill us.
Later for lying down,
waiting to get shot like dogs.
Nonviolence died in Memphis with Dr. King.
We got the fucking guns.
It's time to use them.
Hold on, motherfucker!
Brother, hear you, but I disagree.
And we both know Huey disagrees.
Yeah, we got guns,
but the pig has got more guns.
The pig has got the national guard.
I ain't afraid to fight,
but we ain't stupid.
This here is a time to be smart.
No. Later for that.
No, later for you.
Now listen up, man.
What, we going to forget about Huey and his trial?
Start killing pigs?
Start the revolution now with one of our leaders in jail?
Yeah.
Man, if we do that, Huey's a dead man.
We're all dead.
No, man. We stay cool.
Oh, what?
You giving me orders now?
I'm just telling you what it is.
Later for that.
It is time to intensify the struggle.
That's what it is.
-Got to go. -Bob--
-damn. -Oh, man.
We must stay disciplined.
To act without a plan is counterrevolutionary.
We must stop Eldridge.
El Rage is El Rage. You know him.
He got to recognize you're party leader.
It ain't easy running around lecturing
trying to raise bread to defend your ass.
You always could talk your butt off.
Hey. Don't worry about me.
Don't worry about you?
It ain't the same without you, Huey.
All power to the people.
You got to sit on Eldridge.
Here you go.
Keep passing it down.
Here you go.
All right. Shells.
Give me more shells.
Pigs be here any minute.
We ready for them.
This is for brother Malcolm...
Brother Martin...
And being a motherfucking pig.
(Siren approaching)
Now!
Go! Go go!
Out! Out! Out!
There they are!
Come on, get up!
Get up. Come on!
Come on. Let's go!
Come on, man. Let's go!
Come on, man.
Get inside.
Stay down!
Aah!
Stay down! Stay down!
Oh, no! Stop them!
Help! Help! Help!
Ah!
Aah!
Hold your fire!
Stay down, little Bobby.
(Crying)
Get us out.
Go!
Come out with your hands up!
Uhh!
Look out! Look out!
You hurt?
Throw down your weapons
and come out with your hands up!
I'm ok.
You have five seconds.
Take your clothes off.
What?
The pigs ain't going to shoot you
if you're naked and unarmed.
3...
Just do it!
Keep your hands up.
Keep your hands up, Bobby.
Don't try anything!
I'm not resisting arrest!
Put your hands on the car!
Aah!
No! No!
Motherfuckers!
He was going for this.
And I say to the family and friends
that I stand here
with this strange feeling of joy
and Thanksgiving,
knowing that our young brother
did not die in vain.
He died for the people.
And, out of his death,
we must go back to our community
with this new sense of life force
for liberation.
He said it well,
"power to the people."
He was just a kid.
Brown power for brown people,
red power for red people...
They hurting us, baby.
Huey's locked up.
White power for white people...
Bobby running all over the country
and trying to hold things together.
Cy's dead,
and little Bobby.
I don't even recognize
half the faces at the meetings...
Except his.
Now, look, I got to go get on a plane,
go raise money for Huey's trial.
I want you all to make sure
there's a strong panther presence there.
Hear me?
-Yes, sir. -All right.
What about Eldridge?
You did get him out on bail?
Yeah,
but things getting too hot.
Eldridge is...
Is going to disappear.
The free Huey thing's become
a bit of a rallying cry for the left,
especially with Bobby Seale running around fanning the flames.
Rallying cry!
That's insurrection!
Sir, the panthers have become very resourceful.
I'm afraid we've underestimated
their support in the black community.
That's their power base.
They say a black panther is born every minute in the ghetto.
Tell him I want that power base neutralized!
Mr. Hoover wishes the ultimate contingency implemented.
You mean...
That's exactly what I mean!
And agent Rodgers, this conversation never occurred.
Rodgers, this is no good.
Cut the comedy.
You've been taking money from the mob for years.
Gentlemen, forgive me for keeping you.
Ahh, Dorsett, no matter how we deny it,
we always end up on the same side of the coin.
It's almost funny.
Honestly, it turns my stomach.
Neither your stomach nor your opinion matters here, Dorsett.
What matters is Mr. Tynan's clients
and the bureau have come up with a solution
to our panther problem.
The final solution, you might say.
Our clients, of course, are very pleased
Mr. Hoover decided to take our suggestion to heart.
By the way, why did he change his mind?
Woman's intuition.
Are you sure you can control the product?
Can you assure us this will not get out of hand?
Of course.
Our clients have vast experience in these communities.
It's a matter of degrees.
You give us free reign in the ghetto,
we solve your problems.
I'll assure you the pacifying qualities of heroin are formidable.
A junkie's politics are not like yours and mine.
I'll even read the future for you--
very soon, the jigaboos--
no offense--
the jigaboos will be wanting the stuff so bad--
to get, to sell-- they'll be blowing each other's brains.
It's not a racial issue. It's a matter of law and order.
Of course. At any rate,
we just set them up and step back.
When can you get it out in the streets?
As quick as possible.
We'll manufacture and distribute from a warehouse.
Dorsett knows the locale.
I reiterate.
We need assurances on containment...
That it stays strictly within the problem area.
I want you to put somebody on this.
Keep tabs on the new operation.
No offense.
You talk as if this thing's been decided.
It has been.
Pigs find him yet?
No, they haven't.
They don't even know who was in the car with you.
Good luck, Huey.
Why are you here?
(Crowd) Free Huey! Free Huey!
Why are you here?
Free Huey! Free Huey!
Why are you here?
Free Huey! Free Huey!
Why are you here?
Free Huey! Free Huey!
All power to the people!
Power to the people!
Brothers and sisters, stokely Carmichael!
You say that Huey p. Newton is a prisoner of war.
Now, many people say that that's not true
or that the party is exaggerating.
No!
But I think it's clear--
it's crystal clear
the United States has declared war on black people.
(Shouting)
Now, she did that
when she took the first black man from Africa.
Ah, she never came out and said the words--
"I declare war on black people."
No, she didn't do that.
But let us study our history.
To this day, the United States
has not declared war on Vietnam,
but there is Vietnam.
And they did not declare war in North Korea,
but they sure fought in North Korea.
And they did not declare war on the Indians.
They just wiped them out.
-Right on! -Right on!
They wiped them out!
That's right!
So...
We must define our position.
We are at war.
Huey p. Newton, minister of defense,
is a prisoner of war.
That's right!
We must get him out by any means necessary!
By any means necessary!
Free Huey! Free Huey!
So?
We know for sure there was a passenger.
We just don't know who.
You can't help but admire those young brothers.
They do a lot of good in their communities.
Ever heard about the common good?
The United States of america is more
than a simple collection of ghettos.
This country was built on capitalism and democracy.
In a democracy, the majority rules.
We are a minority, unless we integrate fully.
Whose side are you on, brother?
No. Whose side are you on, officer?
Now, you say that Huey Newton opened fire that night
without any provocation.
What makes you so sure?
It was a dark night.
There was lots of confusion.
Well, sir, I was there.
That's right, you were.
He was there.
He saw everything.
And he is not on trial.
He does not need to lie to save his own life.
Your witness.
Thank you.
No questions, your honor.
Well, you may step down.
But if it please the court,
I would like to introduce testimony at this time
from a new witness,
one who, uh, is not on trial for his life,
but one who was also there.
I call...
Gene mckinney to the stand.
I object, your honor! Who is this man?
This is an eyewitness, your honor--
the passenger in Huey Newton's car.
Overruled. Mr. Garry, you may examine your witness.
Do you swear to tell the whole truth, so help you god?
I do.
Mr. Mckinney,
were you a passenger in the car that night,
October 28, 19677
I keep saying five, like the fifth amendment.
Yes. Yes, sir, I was.
And did you witness the shootout?
(Gunshots)
Yes, sir, I did.
(Crowd talking)
Order. Order.
From what you saw...
Did Huey Newton start the shooting?
Look, am I under arrest?
'Cause according to California--
take that law book and shove it up your ass, nigger!
No! Huey'!
Huey!
No, sir, he did not.
Order!
Free Huey! Free Huey!
Order! Order!
Well, then...
Did someone else start the shooting?
I refuse to answer that question
on the grounds that it might incriminate me.
(Crowd talking)
Order! Order!
Did you shoot the officers in question?
Again I will take the fifth amendment on that question
on the grounds that it might incriminate me.
Order! Order!
Free Huey! Free Huey!
(Newscaster) This just in.
Gene mckinney pleaded the fifth amendment,
and in doing so,
drew suspicion from Huey p. Newton to himself.
If Newton did not initiate the shooting,
charges against him could be greatly reduced.
However, having been granted immunity
in exchange for testifying,
mckinney himself cannot be prosecuted.
Free Huey! Free Huey!
♪ Revolution has come ♪
Free Huey! Free Huey!
♪ Revolution has come ♪
You fit the profile, brother.
You exactly the type of nigger they think they can trust.
No!
Now we must retaliate.
We got the fucking guns.
It is time to use them!
You don't like to see a traitor get hurt?
Anything happen to Huey, I'm going to fuck you up.
The panthers are going to lose.
Are you going to lose along with them?
Lose your future, your mother, your life.
Judge, open up! It's me--Brimmer!
Come on! Open the door!
Judge, wake up.
-We got to get out of here. -Get out of here?
Come on. We're on the move.
I done some fucked-up things on the force,
but nothing like this.
Dorsett ordered me to babysit some dope dealers.
Come on, get out. Let's go.
Run. Get out of here.
So you can shoot me in the back?
I ain't going to shoot you.
Just get out of here.
It's over. Get out.
You fucked up, man.
This whole fucking country's fucked up!
They're going to flood the ghetto with cheap dope.
They're going to store it
in that warehouse I took you.
I just don't know what's going on.
This thing-- it's bigger than you and me.
The panthers are dead.
They killed you!
You just don't know it.
It's over.
Fuck that. Ain't nothing over.
Judge, judge.
-What's happening? -Listen.
What I got to tell you right now
is just between me and you
and these rats and roaches.
Now, listen. Sabu's back.
Motherfucker.
Wait. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on there, baby.
Sabu got juice now.
You know how he left--
he left here on his ass.
He came back here,
and he's talking large, living even larger.
You take care of yourself.
You take care of yourself, man.
O.k. All right.
The pigs are going to let the mob
flood the community with dope.
We've always had drugs.
No, not like that.
A whole 'nother level.
Huey, they're out to neutralize us.
We got to stop this now.
I'm on it.
Power to the people.
Power to the people, brother.
(Telephone rings)
Yeah, black panther party for self-defense.
(Man) Congratulations, asshole. Huey got off,
but we got your boy Bobby Seale.
What the hell you talking about?
Bobby's at a wedding.
Get your hands off me, god damn it!
(Man) Not anymore, he's not.
(Snapping fingers)
We're taking him to Chicago on conspiracy.
Conspiracy? Who the fuck is this?
It's the tooth fairy.
Oh, by the way,
I thought you might like to know who gave us Bobby.
His name is judge.
Hey, what's happening, man?
What's up, Rose? How you doing?
It's good to see you.
Seen stay, man?
Stay who?
Stay the fuck out of my business.
(Whimpers)
(Dog yelps)
(Typing)
Is chairman Bobby back from the wedding?
I need to speak with him.
What the fuck about, pig?
Now ain't the time for that shit, man.
If you want it, pick it up.
I can't believe that rat bastard isn't getting the chair.
That Newton turd ought to be shot.
How about a little target practice, huh?
Yeah.
Get down!
Stay down!
(Laughing)
You chickenshit!
What? You bring your buddies?
No! Listen! We got to move!
They got a warehouse full of drugs!
You set Bobby Seale up to get kidnapped!
How much did the pigs pay you for that one?
Aah!
Drop your piece, motherfucker!
Drop it!
You better kill me, Alma!
What are you saying?
The pigs are going to flood us with dope!
Bullshit!
Tyrone, hold on.
Let's go with judge and check it out.
This motherfucker is just lying again.
We got to take this warehouse down!
All right. We'll go check it out.
No fucking around.
Them sure ain't no pigs, Ty.
Wait.
That's shorty.
Man, that big fool used to run with Sabu back in Detroit.
Sabu is in there with the dope, man.
You believe me now.
I need for you to get this out of here.
Next two weeks, I got a big sale coming.
I need for you to get this,
these two boxes, and those out.
The dude called. He'll bring money at 12:00.
Be down there with the shit.
Let your people know that I'm the man.
If they want to get rid of their stuff,
I make all these customers.
This is my specialty.
Shorty, move them boxes on the other side.
There's hard work in here, baby.
Everybody's working.
All you do is bring your stuff to me.
Motherfucker!
(Gunshots)
Give me Dorsett.
We've got a problem.
Help the man!
No! Ty!
Aah!
Motherfucker!
Pat me.
I'm going to drop it.
I'm going to let it go. I ain't got nothing.
No gun, no ear, no nothing, baby.
I'm through with it.
Talk to me. I know who you are.
You like the pig's money as much as I do.
We can both get paid.
I got everything. Look at this.
I got the cocaine, the heroin.
Whatever you need. Me and you.
We don't need to kill each other, black man.
The black panthers is over, baby.
It's over.
Today is a new day.
(Gunshot)
Ohh.
Tyrone.
(Moaning)
(Crying)
Oh, god.
Judge, help.
He's going to be all right.
We got to get him up and out of here.
Come on.
(Sirens)
We got to get you out of here right now.
I ain't going to make it.
Yes, you are. I got you.
I'll distract the pigs.
Give me the lighter.
(Sirens)
(Car doors open and close)
I love you, Alma.
Now get the hell out of here.
(Police shouting)
Come on, sister. We got to go.
Come on, sister. We got to move.
Let's go. Come on.
(Guns cocking)
Come on! We know you're in there!
This is the police!
You have five seconds to come out
with your hands up.
I repeat. You are ordered to come out
with your hands up!
You there, in the doorway!
You have five seconds to come out with your hands up!
5.4..
3..2..
11!
(Judge) Well, we finally got that stoplight.
They pumped in the dope
to neutralize the black community
and destroy the panther power base,
but drugs overflowed the borders of the ghetto
and ended up on all america's doorsteps.
Look at that!
Despite ongoing persecution by the authorities,
the panthers continued to provide breakfast programs,
sickle cell anemia testing,
even schools for the community.
Before they were eventually crushed,
the panthers had chapters
in almost every state of the union
and several foreign countries.
It came out later that hoover and the FBI
used illegal tactics to destroy the panthers.
Several panthers are still being held in prison on trumped-up charges.
Huey was killed in 1989 in a drug deal.
Bobby lives in Pennsylvania.
He teaches and lectures.
(Judge reading)
The way I see it,
the struggle continues.
♪ Now is the time to free your mind and your soul ♪
♪ y'all ♪
♪ off the story I've never been told ♪
♪ ladies, we got to demand what we want ♪
♪ and what we want is respect, right? ♪
♪ Come and take a walk with me ♪
♪ a closer walk with thee ♪
♪ see what only I can see ♪
♪ brothers and sisters, check this, watch this ♪
♪ to the beat of freedom ♪
♪ freedom ♪
♪ turn us loose, set us free ♪
♪ from all the chains that bind me ♪
♪ let us run in our own direction ♪
♪ let us go ♪
♪ set us free from all this propaganda ♪
♪ and lies that your people try to teach us ♪
♪ I know why you would like to bring us down ♪
♪ because we have all the goods on you ♪
♪ you try to tell us that ♪
♪ our lives don't mean a damn ♪
♪ but we know so much better ♪
♪ so it's goin' to take freedom ♪
♪ free--free-- free--freedom ♪
♪ freedom, oh ♪
♪ oh, yeah ♪
♪ freedom to the beat ♪
♪ free--free- freedom ♪
♪ freedom I'll take ♪
♪ freedom for my mind ♪
♪ yeah, freedom for my spirit ♪
♪ free--free-- free--freedom ♪
♪ freedom ♪
♪ ohh ♪
♪ yeah, yeah ♪
♪ free--free-- free--freedom ♪
♪ when I think back in time ♪
♪ not very long ago ♪
♪ of how far we've come ♪
♪ and how far we have to go ♪
♪ I remember hearing someone say ;&
♪ that love's in need of love today ♪
♪ but no one seems to care ♪
♪ but still I know ♪
♪ when you've taken all ♪
♪ when you've taken all that you can take ♪
♪ and your heart begins to bend ♪
♪ and it feels like it's about to break ♪
♪ that's when ♪
♪ you ♪
♪ you've got to stand ♪
♪ stand, stand ♪
♪ when you feel like you won't make it through, stand ♪
♪ stand ♪
♪ and the things you hoped for ♪
♪ haven't turned out quite the way you planned ♪
♪ when you've done all that you can ♪
♪ you've got to stand ♪
♪ oh oh oh ♪
Help me sing it.
♪ Oh ♪
♪ oh ♪
♪ ohh oh oh oh ♪
♪ ohh oh ♪
♪ oh ohh ♪
♪ you've got to stand, you've got to stand ♪
♪ you've got to stand ♪
♪ hey ♪
♪ you've got to, you've got to ♪
♪ you've got to, you've got to stand ♪
♪ stand ♪
♪ oh, yeah ♪
♪ when you feel like you won't make it through ♪
♪ just stand ♪
♪ stand ♪
♪ and the things you hoped for ♪
♪ haven't turned out quite the way you planned... ♪