Former Black Panther leader H. Rap Brown dies at 82 after serving life sentence for killing Georgia sheriff's deputy.
H. Rap Brown, a prominent figure in the Black Power movement and former chair of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, has passed away at the age of 82 while serving a life sentence at a prison hospital in North Carolina. His death was confirmed by his widow, Karima Al-Amin, who stated that he had been suffering from cancer before being transferred to the medical facility from a federal prison in Colorado.
Brown's radical past and militant views have always been marked by controversy, particularly during the 1960s and 1970s when racial tensions were at an all-time high. In a statement once made, Brown declared that "violence is as American as cherry pie," emphasizing his strong stance against heavy-handed policing in Black communities.
However, it's worth noting that Brown's life took a dramatic turn after he was arrested for a robbery and later became an imam, changing his name to Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin. He went on to open a grocery store, promote interfaith dialogue, and advocate for social justice.
Tragically, Brown's later years were marked by tragedy when two Georgia sheriff's deputies were shot outside his Atlanta home in 2000. The deputy who died from his wounds testified that Brown fired an assault rifle at the scene, leading to a life sentence conviction.
In recent years, Brown's family and supporters have raised questions about the fairness of his trial, citing newly uncovered evidence that could suggest he was wrongly convicted. While his lawyers argued that their client's constitutional rights were violated during the proceedings, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the case in 2020.
The circumstances surrounding Brown's death are yet to be confirmed, but it serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities and contradictions often associated with figures who challenge societal norms and push for change through radical means.
H. Rap Brown, a prominent figure in the Black Power movement and former chair of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, has passed away at the age of 82 while serving a life sentence at a prison hospital in North Carolina. His death was confirmed by his widow, Karima Al-Amin, who stated that he had been suffering from cancer before being transferred to the medical facility from a federal prison in Colorado.
Brown's radical past and militant views have always been marked by controversy, particularly during the 1960s and 1970s when racial tensions were at an all-time high. In a statement once made, Brown declared that "violence is as American as cherry pie," emphasizing his strong stance against heavy-handed policing in Black communities.
However, it's worth noting that Brown's life took a dramatic turn after he was arrested for a robbery and later became an imam, changing his name to Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin. He went on to open a grocery store, promote interfaith dialogue, and advocate for social justice.
Tragically, Brown's later years were marked by tragedy when two Georgia sheriff's deputies were shot outside his Atlanta home in 2000. The deputy who died from his wounds testified that Brown fired an assault rifle at the scene, leading to a life sentence conviction.
In recent years, Brown's family and supporters have raised questions about the fairness of his trial, citing newly uncovered evidence that could suggest he was wrongly convicted. While his lawyers argued that their client's constitutional rights were violated during the proceedings, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the case in 2020.
The circumstances surrounding Brown's death are yet to be confirmed, but it serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities and contradictions often associated with figures who challenge societal norms and push for change through radical means.
I think its kinda weird how some ppl still don't like H. Rap Brown even tho he seemed to have turned his life around after gettin in trouble back in the day. Like, yeah, he did somethin crazy when he was younger and served time for it but then he became an imam, opened a grocery store, and even promoted interfaith dialogue. That's some growth right there! 
Anyway, I think its interesting how his family is still tryin to get the truth out about his conviction, maybe they can finally get some closure. 
. 82 is old but his legacy lives on. all these years he was locked up, ppl think about how unfair it was to him. but at the same time, u gotta consider the violence he was a part of back in the day. its crazy how one life can have so many twists and turns 
. seems like hes finally found peace tho 
H. Rap Brown was like a complex figure, you know? he started out fighting for black power and justice, but then took a whole different turn after getting arrested. i'm not gonna lie, it's weird to think that the same person who said "violence is as american as cherry pie" was also an imam and advocating for peace 
. You know, people always remember the radical stuff, but it's nice to see that he found his way after serving time and became a advocate for social justice in a different way. His legacy is complex, but I think it's up to us to keep having conversations about what's important 
He really did prove that people can change and grow.
. 82 years old is pretty much ancient for someone in the slammer 
. I'm not gonna say it was a shock, but still... Brown was always a polarizing figure 
. One minute you're protesting and fighting for civil rights, next thing you know you're an imam and running a grocery store 
It just goes to show you that justice isn't always just 
.
. He may have been a complicated dude, but he definitely made his mark on history 
. Rest in peace, I guess 
.
... It just goes to show how complex life is, right? You can't always judge someone by one aspect of their life. RIP H. Rap Brown 
. its crazy how some people can go from being super radical and violent to becoming a advocate for social justice & interfaith dialogue 
. hes definitely had his ups and downs, but you gotta respect the fact that he stuck to his convictions even when it was hard 
. also gotta wonder if they'll ever be able to uncover all the truth about what really happened in 2000 with those deputies... its a shame that justice isnt always served 
. It's wild to think about how far he went from being a Black Panther to opening up a business that promotes interfaith dialogue.
.
. He may have started out as a radical figure, but he ended up being someone who wanted to bring people together and fight for justice in his own way 
i always thought about how far he came from bein a black power leader to openin a grocery store and preachin interfaith love 
what a legacy tho... but at the same time, you can't forget that life sentence conviction 
, you feel for him as a man who tried to spark change but got caught up in the system himself 
at the end of the day, we gotta acknowledge his impact on the world & the Black Power movement 
And what's up with him being locked up for so long after shooting those deputies? It just doesn't seem fair to me... 
. h. rap brown's passing is like a punch to the gut - the dude was 82 years old, still serving a life sentence, and now he's gone. cancer was probably the last thing on his mind, but I guess that's just how it goes sometimes