FIRING LINE: HOW DOES IT GO WITH THE BLACK MOVEMENT? {HUEY P. NEWTON} (TV)
Summary
One in this talk/interview series hosted by William F. Buckley, Jr. This edition, filmed at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, profiles Black Panther activist Huey P. Newton. Newton begins by defining the term "revolutionary suicide." He goes on to argue for human revolutions and to debate with Buckley the difference between a coup d'Žtat and a revolution. Newton then criticizes the Western idea of democracy as operational only when issues come to a vote, and he chides the system for refusing to allow certain principles to come under the voters' scrutiny. Newton argues for expanding the scope of democracy, in fact, to include rebellion or insurrection. He then explains why the Black Panthers expelled Eldridge Cleaver, citing Cleaver's dependence on weapons and force to the detriment of effective organization of Black communities; the Panthers believed that this attitude led to a damaged public image and lack of effectiveness for the party. Finally, students Larry Sinkin and Patricia Holland and professor Gary Mounce from Trinity University ask Newton questions leading to the discussion of the following topics: progressive social policies for inner cities, the importance of religion in Black culture, and the most effective forms of education for fostering community control.
(Network affiliation varies; this program was also syndicated from 1966 to 1971 and from 1975 to 1977.)
Cataloging of this program was made possible by Mr. and Mrs. Theodore R. Stanley.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: November 30, 1970
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:44
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:08341
- GENRE: Talk/Interviews
- SUBJECT HEADING: Black Panthers (organization); Black power; Revolutionaries; Revolutions; African-American Collection - News/Talk
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1971-1999
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Warren Steibel … Producer, Director
- Paul Sweeney … Associate Producer
- Frank Duane … Consulting Producer
- Agatha S. Dowd … Researcher
- William F. Buckley, Jr. … Host, Interviewer
- Huey P. Newton … Guest
- Eldridge Cleaver
- Patricia Holland
- Gary Mounce
- Larry Sinkin