I was a young man when this all happened, I remember many of the news clips that Mr. Roger Guenveur Smith and Mr. Lee have skillfully woven into this POWERFUL biography of a man that was demonized by the "system" both economic and political. The real tragedy is all of Mr. Newton's issues are even more relevant today. Now the cry is not just from African Americans, it is now a call from all people from all over the world, the 99% that are not part of the 1%.What seemed like a very reasonable requests in 1968 today seems like distant dreams to many. What were they? He wanted Full employment, decent housing, Justice instead of criminal justice, Good Education, Stop killing our people. Newton talks about the "slave mentality" which today has become the employment philosophy demanded by Wall Street. No Union, no contract, work in fear, things have gotten much worse since 1968, Mr. Smith has done a masterful job of capturing and perpetuating Huey Newton's work, which has now become the work all of the 99% , OWS, . One can only ask how the world would be today if white America would have listened and supported what he was trying to do. This is a sharp criticism of today's society in the form of a historical documentary. It will offend some and anger others. But for the few who can endure the pain and guilt. There are some real nuggets of truth being conveyed. Try to listen, and learn. A true work of love and conviction, Mr. Smith poured is own soul into the work and Mr. Lees genius captured it and made it work. Well done gentlemen.

smith is an excellent actor, and this documentary actually showed this to me. Before when I saw him in miniature characters in Malcolm X, All About the Benjamins, Do the Right Thing, etc. he wasn't scene-stealing. But this Doc. could change your view on him. His timing, delivery, and emotion that he brings to the character actually makes you believe your seeing the real Huey Newton. Everything is well-performed, top notch acting, from the Notorious B.I.G allusions(such as "that boy was notorious" "he said this is the rhymes I'll do when I get big, he was small but figured he was gone' be big") to the dog tom allegory("that's a good boy Tom, get that...chicken...fetch'it, fetch'it) which was about uncle toms, stepinfetchit' "performances".This a must on your my movies

The most enlightening work I have ever seen on the era. I now have insight into the revolution. Never before did I even come close to understanding the dynamics of the conflict or the leader of the Black Panthers. Every american must see this to begin to understand one of the most major problems this country has. I could not peel my eyes from the screen. Unbelievable performance by Roger Smith. Spike Lee has a knack for finding these incredibly draining performances and bringing them to you in a way that makes you run the gamet of emotion as well. This as well as FREAK! by John Leguizamo, both present two VERY different performances with VERY different meanings, both pull you through a full gauntlet of emotion. Incredible works.Do the tighten-up Make it mellow

Roger G. Smith's Huey grabs you by the throat and won't let go. A complex one-man play -- flawlessly executed -- that would challenge the talents of the Theatre's best. Ninety minutes of stunning, nonstop diversity, conflict, and maddening contradiction that made Newton one of the most notorious yet enigmatic personalities of America's tumultuous 60's. Smith is surely the actor to watch in 2002 after a performance of such magnitude. Truly hypnotic.