In Monroe, Luoisiana, on February 17, 1942, a hero was born. No one knew on that day the changes he would bring about, and certainly not everyone would agree with them. In fact, as his life progressed, many would stand fiercely against him. But, undoubtedly, Huey Percival Newton was a hero. A definite hero to the Black community, if not to the American Public. On that day, however, Huey would have many years to grow into the shoes he'd have to fill. Born into a tight-knit family, he was the youngest of seven children. His father, Walter Newton named him after the Luoisiana Governer at that time, Huey P. Long. His father thought the Governer to be a well respected man who had done a lot to fight inequality. But, this was not the case, and often Huey found himself questioned and ridiculed because of the stark contrast between the Governer's views and his own. This was the least of Newton's problems though; growing up black in the 1900's was a constant struggle. Just like Bobby Seale, and so many other black kids, Newton grew up surrounded by poverty and warfare. At the age of three, Newton and his famliy moved across the country to Oakland, California. He was a part of the secong Great Migration to escape the south and move west. Although it was a new city, many of the same problems awaited him. It was here, in a city dripping with hatred and predjudice, that Huey felt he was made to be ashamed of being black. As a teenager, Newton often got into trouble with the law. He was charged on a variety of convictions including gun possesion and vandalism. However, he managed to graduate High School in 1959, but he was unable to read and had to study at night to teach himself. Newton went on to San Francisco Law School with the intention of learning how to be a better criminal,
"The blood, sweat, tears and suffering of black people are the foundation of the wealth and power of the United States. We were forced to build America, and if forced, we will tear it down. The immediate result of its destruction will be suffering and bloodshed. But the end result will be perpetual peace for mankind."