The authenticity of "The Big Cigar" is questioned. Exploration of the behind-the-scenes tale detailing how a fictional Hollywood movie supposedly aided Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton in evading the FBI.
In the tumultuous year of 1974, Huey P. Newton, co-founder and first leader of the Black Panther Party, made a dramatic escape from the United States to Cuba. This historical event, shrouded in mystery, is the centrepiece of the new Apple TV+ series, The Big Cigar.
Newton's flight from the US came as he faced fresh charges, a consequence of the complex and contentious legal struggles that dogged his life. His conviction for voluntary manslaughter in 1967, stemming from a shooting incident involving an Oakland police officer, had been overturned on appeal in 1970 due to legal misconduct on the part of the trial's judge. Yet, the spectre of prosecution loomed once more in 1974.
The Black Panther Party, a response to racial tensions and violence against African Americans by police, found itself facing a significant blow with Newton's departure. His absence took its toll, causing conflicts and power struggles within the group during his exile in Cuba.
The escape was facilitated by a cunning ploy devised by Hollywood producer Bert Schneider. He organised a fake film named The Big Cigar as an alibi for Newton's movements. Schneider, a vocal supporter of the Black Panther Party, assembled a team of filmmakers and actors sympathetic to the cause to act in Newton's interest.
Cuba provided a place of refuge for Newton during this tense period of political and legal pressure. His time there reflected the wider context of political asylum Cuba offered to some American radicals and activists during the Cold War. The show The Big Cigar touches on this detail to highlight the political climate and Newton's tactical decisions.
Upon his return to the US in 1977, the trials did not lead to convictions, illustrating the complex and contentious nature of his legal troubles. Newton's final words, "You can kill my body, and you can take my life but you can never kill my soul. My soul will live forever," echoed the resilience and determination that defined his life and the Black Panther movement.
The creation of the Black Panther Party was heavily inspired by black nationalist leader Malcolm X. Newton, along with Bobby Seale, co-founded the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense in October 1966 in Oakland, California. The party's mission was to protect African American communities from police brutality and systemic racism.
The Big Cigar is a limited series on Apple TV+ based on a true story, exploring the period of Newton's life when he fled to Cuba. It offers a dramatic portrayal of this significant event against the backdrop of 1970s political struggles, shedding light on a pivotal moment in Black Panther history.
The story of Huey P. Newton's dramatic escape to Cuba in 1974 is a significant focus in the new Apple TV+ series, The Big Cigar, set in the world of movies-and-tv entertainment. His escape, facilitated by a Hollywood producer, was accompanied by a fictional film as an alibi, demonstrating the intricate blend of politics and entertainment during the turbulent year.
In the limited series, The Big Cigar, we witness the Black Panther Party grappling with power struggles and internal conflicts due to the absence of co-founder Huey P. Newton during his exile in Cuba, highlighting the far-reaching impact his departure had on the organization.
