Fred Hampton — When The State Feared A Black Man

0:04 Welcome to True Crime, authors and extraordinary people. The podcast where we bring two passions together. The show that gives new meaning to the old adage, truth is stranger than fiction. And reminding you that there is an extraordinary person in all of us. Here is your host, David McClam. What's going on, everybody? Welcome to another episode of True Crime, Authors of Extraordinary People, Black History Month Fact Edition. Of course, I'm your man, David McClam. If you guys haven't already, make sure you follow us on all of our social media. One link to a link tree will get you every place you need to go pertaining to the show.

0:44 And like I always like to remind you, if you are someone or you know someone who feels like hurting yourself or someone else, please leave this episode in dial 988. It is the suicide prevention hotline that can get you the help that you need. And in case no one else has told you this today, let me be the first to tell you I do care and I need you to be here. There is nothing worth your life. Well, all right, if you are keeping up to the date, this is Black History Fact Number Eight. Today, we're gonna talk about Fred Hampton when the state feared a young black man. Fred Hampton was 21 years old when the state decided he was too dangerous to live.

1:29 He was charismatic, intelligent, disciplined, and politically astute. As chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, Hampton organized community programs that fed children, educated residents, and built alliances across racial lines. That last part terrified the government. Hampton understood that poverty was not a black problem, it was a systemic one. He built what became known as the Rainbow Coalition uniting black, Latino, and white working class groups around shared economic injustice. The FBI took notice. Under J.

2:09 Edgar Hoover, the FBI launched COINTELPRO, a covert program designed to disrupt, discredit, and destroy civil rights organizations. Fred Hampton was identified as a major threat, not because he was violent, but because he was effective. In December 1969, Chicago police raided Hampton's apartment in the early morning hours. Hampton had been drugged by an informant the night before and was unconscious during the raid. Police fired nearly 100 rounds. Hampton was shot twice in the head at point blank range. Authorities initially claimed a shootout.

2:49 Evidence later showed almost all gunfire came from police, and the raid was an execution. No officers were convicted. Fred Hampton never reached adulthood. He never saw the long-term impact of his organizing. But his ideas, coalition, solidarity, and mutual aid continued to resonate. The state feared Fred Hampton because he showed people how to organize beyond fear. Now everybody can dispute me, but we've always said that the J. Edgar Hoover era of the FBI was racist, and it was very racist. Not only did they go up to Fred Hampton, but they also went up to people that you well know, like Martin Luther King Jr.

3:32 That's why a lot of things came about Martin Luther King Jr. I think Martin Luther King even fell into some of this COINTELPRO. This is why it's been widely stated that he was set up when he was assassinated, and JFK's name was in that too, because anyone that opposed what Jay Egar Hoover and the world at that time stood for, he went after. And when it came to young black organizers or black people trying to do things peacefully, or black people to oppose him, Jay Garhoover didn't like that. And I know that the Black Panther Party name's in here, but I don't got time to get all into it. But do your research in the Black Panther Party. The Black Panther Party was never put together to be violent.

4:12 They were put together to help out. And yes, over the years, I know Black Panther Party's come up, they put bounties on people's heads and they decided they're gonna go after people. I get all of that. But look at the circumstance that was. Not that it makes it any better or worse or worse, but the fact I'm trying to make is a lot of these groups that was made back then was not made for violence. They weren't made to be gangs. They were made to be organizations to help not only black people, but other people too as well. You've heard of the Rainbow Coalition before, but you've probably never heard Fred Hamden's name attached to that because you've always heard about the Rainbow Coalition and Jesse Jackson. So a lot of people do not know that a 21-year-old was the one that built and made the Rainbow Coalition Party that tried to help all of us unite across the working board, like Latinos and whites together.

5:05 So there you have a little piece about Fred Hampton, 21-year-old taking out too soon because the government was too scared of what he would do. Fred Hampton would have, and in my opinion, he has indeed changed the world because a lot of the things that Fred Hampton did, a lot of the people that Fred Hampton trained, and a lot of the things that Fred Hampton organized, if you look deeply, is still rooted today in America. Alright, guys, thank you for joining us today. I know you have meaty choices in the True Crime Interview Podcast. I am grateful that I am one of your choices. You have been listening to the only three fashioned podcasts of its kind.

5:48 Be good to yourself and each other. And always remember, always stay humbled. An act of kindness can make someone's day. A little love and compassion can go a long way. And remember that there is an extraordinary person in all of us. I'll catch you guys on the next one. Don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe. Join us on social media. One link to the Link Tree has it all. Feel free to drop us a line at TrueCrime and Authors at gmail.com. Sound mixing and editing by David McLam. Intro script by Sophie Wilde and David McLam.

6:30 Theme Music Legendary by New Alchemist. Introduction and ending credits by Jackie Voice. See you next time on True Crime, Authors, and Extraordinary People.