The man who spoke with words of magic and color –Fred Hampton
“Dare to Struggle, Dare to Win. If you don’t struggle, damn it, you don’t deserve to win!”. -Fred Hampton
I find it hard to tell the story of Fred in words, in a text of any length or in any other way at all. He was only 21 when he was murdered but the revolution he did along with others, non-less significant, left a big impact forever. I believe that as every revolutionary, he knew that doing what he was doing, every day might be his last, but he also knew he was on a mission he couldn’t stop.
“I believe I’m going to die doing the things I was born to do. I believe I’m going to die high off the people. I believe I’m going to die a revolutionary in the international revolutionary proletarian struggle.” Fred Hampton
The Black Panther Party was a revolutionary Black Nationalist and socialist organization and was founded by Bobby Seale and Huey Newton in October 1966, to which Fred Hampton joined in 1968.
Even though Fred wasn’t the first one to start the Black Panther Party, he had a fascinating ability to attract the audience. The speeches would come out of his mouth as a flowing river of words. Making every listener feel as every word Fred said referred directly to him. Hampton’s organizing skills, substantial oratorical gifts, and personal charisma allowed him to rise quickly in the Black Panthers.
“We got to face some facts. That the masses are poor, that the masses belong to what you call the lower class, and when I talk about the masses, I’m talking about the white masses, I’m talking about the black masses, and the brown masses, and the yellow masses, too”.
Fred Hampton was murdered on the 3rd of December 1969 in his sleep after a sleeping drug was slipped into his drink.
As well as Martin Luther King, Fred had a nonviolent approach throughout all his journey as a revolutionary.
“You don’t fight fire with fire. You fight fire with water. We’re gonna fight racism with solidarity. We’re not gonna fight capitalism with Black capitalism. We’re gonna fight capitalism with socialism. Socialism is the people. If you’re afraid of socialism, you’re afraid of yourself”.
Fred never wanted the people to see him as a person holding a higher position than they do or having a different struggle. He was one of the people, acting for the people.
“I am the people, I’m not the pig. You got to make a distinction. And the people are going to have to attack the pigs. The people are going to have to stand up against the pigs. That’s what the Panthers is doing, that’s what the Panthers are doing all over the world”.
“You don’t fight racism with racism. You fight racism with unity”.
“Let me just say: Peace to you, if you’re willing to fight for it.” Fred Hampton
Fred Hampton: “You Can Jail A Revolutionary, But You Can’t Jail A Revolution”.