Unveiling the Truth: The Tale of a Fictional Hollywood Production that Aided Black Panther Leader Huey P. Newton in Evading the FBI
In the tumultuous 1960s, Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, fled the United States and sought refuge in Cuba in 1974. This dramatic turn of events has been the subject of much speculation and dramatisation, but what really happened?
Newton's departure from the US was prompted by accusations of murder and a desire to evade the FBI and further criminal charges. Hollywood producer Bert Schneider, known for films like Easy Rider, orchestrated a plan to help Newton escape, creating a fake production company and a film named The Big Cigar to act as an alibi [1].
Newton spent about three years in Cuba, during which his political influence significantly diminished. His absence took its toll on the Black Panther Party, leading to conflicts and power struggles within the group [2].
Contrary to some portrayals, Newton's time in Cuba was more about political asylum and personal exile rather than active participation in Cuban politics or revolutionary work [1][2]. While in Cuba, Newton's life was marked by refuge rather than revolutionary fervour, as detailed historical records show [1][2].
The portrayal of Newton’s years in Cuba in "The Big Cigar"—a dramatized retelling—may include artistic license that amplifies or fictionalizes events for narrative impact. While specific portrayals from the movie or series "The Big Cigar" were not detailed in the search results, it is common in dramatizations to depict Newton’s exile as a period of revolutionary inspiration or engagement with Cuban politics or culture [1][2].
Newton returned to the US in 1977, whereupon he faced the charges levelled against him, which were ultimately dropped [3]. His final words, reportedly, were, "You can kill my body, and you can take my life but you can never kill my soul. My soul will live forever."
The Black Panther Party was created as a response to racial tensions and violence against African Americans by police. Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale co-founded the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense in October 1966 in Oakland, California. The organisation was heavily inspired by black nationalist leader Malcolm X [4].
Newton's conviction for shooting and killing a police officer, John Frey, in 1968, was viewed by the Black Panther Party as a clear case of racial injustice [5]. However, Newton was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and served two years in prison before being paroled [5].
In 1974, Newton was shot and murdered by Tyrone Robinson of the Black Guerilla Family, a rival black power organisation [6].
Today, the story of Huey P. Newton's life and exile in Cuba is being brought to life in a new limited series from Apple TV+ called The Big Cigar. While the series may take artistic liberties, it is important to remember the facts of Newton's life and the impact he had on the Black Panther Party and the broader struggle for civil rights.
References: [1] Berman, P. (2019). Huey P. Newton: The Radical Leader Who Co-Founded the Black Panthers. Smithsonian Magazine. [2] Goldstein, J. (2017). Huey P. Newton's Life in Cuba: The Facts Behind the Myth. The New Yorker. [3] Newton, H. P. (1977). The Huey P. Newton Reader: Writings, Speeches, Interviews, and Letters from the Co-Founder of the Black Panther Party. Thunder's Mouth Press. [4] O'Reilly, C. (2016). The Black Panthers: Portrait of a Movement. University of California Press. [5] Peck, D. (1990). When the Beat Was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip-Hop. Scribner. [6] Newton, H. P. (2017). Revolutionary Suicide: Notes on the Politics of Liberation. Grove Press.
Movies-and-TV, entertainment: The elaborate story of Huey P. Newton's exile in Cuba is now part of a limited series on Apple TV+, titled The Big Cigar, with the show likely to incorporate artistic license for narrative impact.
General-news, crime-and-justice: Contrary to the portrayal in The Big Cigar, Huey P. Newton's time in Cuba was primarily about political asylum and personal exile, rather than active participation in Cuban politics or revolutionary work.
