A Huey P. Newton Story and The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglas

From an idea in 1989 to a stage play in 1996 to a film in 2002, A Huey P. Newton Story has been a labour of love and patience for Roger Guenveur Smith. Along the way as a stage play, it received numerous awards including two Drama Desk nominations, the Helen Hayes Award, two Obie Awards, two AUDELCO awards, and three NAACP Awards.
Now as a film it has been honoured around the world and has recently received two NAACP Image Award nominations for Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special and Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special.
"A Huey P. Newton Story" was produced by Luna Ray Films and is an original production of BLACK STARZ! in association with PBS and the African Heritage Network.-
http://www.pbs.org/hueypnewton/about.html
SPIKE LEE AND ROGER GUENVEUR SMITH, along with PBS have teamed up to produce a well crafted one man show.

Huey P. Newton, was one of America's greatest revolutionaries (for some), or a "menace to American society" for others. It depends on who you are talking to at the time. For me his revolutionary actions brought about change in America.

His work in the Civil Rights movement to achieve equal access was one of, "By any means necessary". As the leader of the Black Panther Party of the 60's, Huey P. Newton was an advocate for the preservation of the black community. This was a turbulent time in American history.

As I viewed this film, emotions surfaced. I was born in the late 50's, so I was young during the "Movement". I remember the struggle during the late 60's. The media coverage of the Black Panther's painted a picture of a militant, violent, and subversive gang. There was little, if any coverage of the positive things the Panther's were doing for the Black community in Oakland.

Out of this turbulent time came some of the most prolific revolutionary artwork, in the form of the The Black Panther Newspaper. The work of one man, Emory Douglas. http://www.itsabouttimebpp.com/Emory_Art/Emory_Art_index.html