"Looking Back at Huey Newton’s Thoughts on Gay Rights…

[Luminous Animal]

In the Wake of Obama’s Endorsement"

From: Davey D's Hip Hop Corner-(The Blog)
http://hiphopandpolitics.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/looking-back-at-huey-newtons-thoughts-on-gay-rights-in-the-wake-of-obamas-endorsement/

This was a speech given August 15 1970 by Huey Newton co-founder of the Black Panther Party..here he addresses the issue of Gay Rights… Its serious food for thought coming in the aftermath of President Obama endorsing Same-sex Message…

During the past few years strong movements have developed among women and among homosexuals seeking their liberation. There has been someuncertainty about how to relate to these movements.

Whatever your personal opinions and your insecurities about
homosexuality and the various liberation movements among homosexuals
and women (and I speak of the homosexuals and women as oppressed
groups), we should try to unite with them in a revolutionary fashion.
I say ” whatever your insecurities are” because as we very well know,
sometimes our first instinct is to want to hit a homosexual in the
mouth, and want a woman to be quiet. We want to hit a homosexual in
the mouth because we are afraid that we might be homosexual; and we
want to hit the women or shut her up because we are afraid that she
might castrate us, or take the nuts that we might not have to start
with.

We must gain security in ourselves and therefore have respect and
feelings for all oppressed people. We must not use the racist attitude
that the White racists use against our people because they are Black
and poor. Many times the poorest White person is the most racist
because he is afraid that he might lose something, or discover
something that he does not have. So you’re some kind of a threat to
him. This kind of psychology is in operation when we view oppressed
people and we are angry with them because of their particular kind of
behavior, or their particular kind of deviation from the established
norm.

Remember, we have not established a revolutionary value system; we are
only in the process of establishing it. I do not remember our ever
constituting any value that said that a revolutionary must say
offensive things towards homosexuals, or that a revolutionary should
make sure that women do not speak out about their own particular kind
of oppression. As a matter of fact, it is just the opposite: we say
that we recognize the women’s right to be free. We have not said much
about the homosexual at all, but we must relate to the homosexual
movement because it is a real thing. And I know through reading, and
through my life experience and observations that homosexuals are not
given freedom and liberty by anyone in the society. They might be the
most oppressed people in the society.

There's more....

[socialist_n_TN]

1. Pretty damn strong statement for 1970........

But then Huey was obviously a revolutionary socialist. I would expect nothing less from a revolutionary socialist. If you don't believe in these things, you are NOT a revolutionary socialist. Period.

[Zalatix]

5. Ayup, the Black Panthers in general were greatly maligned by the media

they would NEVER have publicized this, except to the John Birchers to whip them into a frenzy.

[Jim Lane]

12. Agreed! I was reading the papers then and had no idea of this. (n/t)

[David__77]

2. The liberals always misunderstood Huey Newton.

He rejected the backward culture of the lumpen proletariat completely, but spoke in clear terms that were politically understood by them. He wanted a very broad front, but said things that horrified "respectable" liberals, "pussy power" and all.

[socialist_n_TN]

3. Yes, but that's what an agitator does..........

He or she speaks in the language of his/her target audience. You don't talk down to them. You respect their intelligence, but you do make your points in the common parlance of your audience.

[David__77]

4. Oh yes, I agree.

The Black Panther newspaper had a pretty good quality from what I've seen. Too many unedited reprints from Xinhua news service, but still good.

[stlsaxman]

6. Thank you for posting this!

When i was in eight grade one of my teachers used to give us selected students Do It!, Black Like Me, Soul On Ice, Dick Gregory's book, the Chicago Seven Trial Transcripts and the Black Panther newsletter and other assorted goodies. I had a "Free Huey" button as well.

It is remarkable to read this some 45 years later... Huey was inclusive for all the right reasons- and then some. Some clergy might do well to read this.

[marasinghe]

7. thanks for the post. Huey got it.

This says it all:

".... We must gain security in ourselves and therefore have respect and
feelings for all oppressed people ...."

[Luminous Animal]

8. Kick because this is great stuff. Brave stuff.

Last edited Sun May 13, 2012, 01:07 PM - Edit history (1)

No need for that personal, "I feel your pain," evolving crap.

[Blue_In_AK]

9. Very well said, Huey.

[socialist_n_TN]

10. Kick. Because this is important........

nm

[dickthegrouch]

11. K&R because still important 40 years later /nt

[xchrom]

13. Du rec. Nt

[burrowowl]

14. Love Huey!

[malthaussen]

15. Unfortunately, the message that we should "unite in a revolutionary way"

... has fallen by the wayside. The Right Wing really did not need to Divide and Conquer, the revolutionaries divided all on their own.

-- Mal