The famous African American political activist and co-founder of the Black Panther Party, Huey P. Newton, is also a Phi Beta Sigma brother. During his time at Merritt College, Newton organized the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, which he co-founded with Phi Beta Sigma member Bobby Seale in 1966.
Newton studied at the San Francisco Law School and the University of California Santa Cruz, earning a bachelor’s degree and joining the Black Greekdom through the Beta Tau Chapter.
Newton’s involvement in the fraternity led to the university’s first African-American history course.
Together Newton and Seale founded over 60 community programs at the Black organization, among them food banks and medical clinics.
In 1980, Newton returned to the University of California, Santa Cruz, to complete his Ph.D. in social philosophy after being acquitted in two murder cases and living in exile in Cuba for three years.
Following the dissolution of the Black Panther Party in 1982, Newton died in 1989.
49 years ago today two members of Phi Beta Sigma; Bobby Seale & Huey Newton, founded the Black Panther Party. #GOMAB pic.twitter.com/RQ1gTEZ8Zp
— UIowa Sigmas (@KPsi_Sigmas) October 15, 2015
Happy Founders’ Day to the distinguished men of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. Congratulations on 108 years of Brotherhood, scholarship, and service!
