Former Black Panther Leader H. Rap Brown Dies at 82
Former Black Panther leader H. Rap Brown died at 82 in a prison hospital while serving a life sentence for a Georgia sheriff's deputy's killing.
Overview
H. Rap Brown, a prominent former Black Panther leader and chair of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, passed away at the age of 82.
He died at the Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina, a prison hospital, as confirmed by his widow, Karima Al-Amin.
Brown was serving a life sentence after his 2002 conviction for the 2000 shooting of Fulton County Deputy Sheriff Ricky Kinchen, maintaining his innocence.
Before his death, Brown was known for his strong criticism of heavy-handed policing practices within Black communities.
The cause of death was not immediately available, but he had been battling cancer prior to his passing.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover this story neutrally, providing a balanced and factual overview of H. Rap Brown's complex life. They present his militant past alongside his later religious conversion and community work, and detail the disputed circumstances of his conviction, including both legal arguments and family concerns about trial fairness. This approach avoids overt editorial bias.
Sources (3)
FAQ
H. Rap Brown was the fifth chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and later became an honorary officer and minister of justice for the Black Panther Party. He was known for his militant stance and advocacy for Black Power, helping to shift SNCC's direction toward more radical activism.
H. Rap Brown was convicted in 2002 for the 2000 shooting death of Fulton County Deputy Sheriff Ricky Kinchen and the wounding of another officer outside his convenience store in Atlanta. He maintained his innocence until his death.
H. Rap Brown was known for provocative statements such as 'Violence is as American as cherry pie' and 'If America don't come around, we're gonna burn it down.' He also authored the autobiography 'Die Nigger Die!'
Brown began as a nonviolent activist with the Nonviolent Action Group and SNCC, but later embraced militant Black Power ideology, aligning with the Black Panther Party. After prison, he converted to Islam and became a Muslim cleric and grocery store owner.
Brown's leadership marked a shift toward militancy in SNCC and inspired many young activists with his radical message. However, his confrontational style and legal troubles contributed to SNCC's decline and increased government scrutiny of Black activists.
History
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