Huey P. Newton was welcomed by the students when he visited the Black Panther Liberation School in East Oakland shortly after he got out of prison in August 1970. Photo: Ducho Dennis

At the reception there on Saturday, Feb. 16, 1-4 p.m., hosted by Elbert Big Man Howard, enjoy speakers, music, poetry, films and refreshments. Rare video footage of Huey and of the Oakland Community School will be shown. Ericka Huggins, former director of the Oakland Community School, will speak about the goals and contributions of the school and its impact on current educational practice for inner-city youth. Speakers will also include former students of the Black Panther schools.

I was a Panther and an aide to Huey in the early ‘70s. I went to court with him daily and worked closely with his parents. I attended family functions and had a chance to see Huey as a human being and not just as a great leader.

It has been 40 years since February 1968, when over 5,000 people attended a celebration for Huey's birthday at the Oakland Auditorium. Black leaders from all over America came out, including Stokely Carmichael, H. Rap Brown, James Foreman, Bunchy Carter, Bobby Seale and Eldridge Cleaver. Entertainment was by the Impressions.

In 2008, we will honor Huey for his leadership and for founding the BPP. Huey helped develop many of the community programs - survival programs - of the Black Panther Party, some of which are still going on today and benefiting many people across the country. When Huey was killed in 1989, the city lost a great warrior, but his contributions live on and will be remembered.

All Power to the People!

Billy X Jennings, curator of both the current Black Panther exhibits and archivist for the party, can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it For more information about the exhibits, call (510) 238-7352 or (916) 455-0908.

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