When discussing Huey Newton’s “Revolutionary Suicide,” the theme of “to be born black is to be born dead” was mentioned. Newton was quite blunt about how this notion affected the way he lived his life as this can be seen in the title of his memoir, “Revolutionary Suicide.” But this idea played a large role in the bold and somewhat daring connotation that is associated with Newton’s name. Whether it was growing up short-changing cashiers, his reckless love life or even starting a breakfast program for students, there has always been a mysticism that surrounds Newton and the Panthers.
This plays into the idea of public perception influencing the way groups and people fit into society. I didn’t know much much about the Panthers before this class. All I knew about them was that they portrayed themselves (or were portrayed) as a somewhat militant group who organized groups to defend themselves. However, the clip of the play we watched and his memoir helped me fully understand the aims of the Panthers. It’s shocking that a group could be so greatly misrepresented, even years after its disbanding.
This notion of public perception’s influence on the conflict we’ve studied is extremely relevant to the conflict in Ireland. It’s amazing that two groups of people who are from denominations of the same religion can have such a bloody and tense history. Mojo Mickybo and Pentecost are two examples of Catholics and Protestants having decent relationships with each other – at least for a little bit. When people from the different sects or races in the literature we’ve studied view each other as individuals they’re able to have a shot at getting along. But when they view each other as part of a group or party public perception entirely affects how they get along. When we read Huey’s memoir it humanizes him. But to the police he was just a part of a group that they viewed as a threat to national security. When Mojo and Mickybo start to understand the conflict that consumes their lives, they can no longer be friends. But when the characters in Pentecost are secluded from the conflict in Lily’s old house, they’re able to reconcile.