Revolutionary Suicide

Huey P. Newton’s concept of revolutionary suicide is about choosing to resist oppression despite knowing it may lead to one’s death. In his book Revolutionary Suicide (1973), Newton contrasts it with what he calls reactionary suicide, where oppressed people feel hopeless and self-destruct without fighting back.

Revolutionary suicide, on the other hand, is an act of defiance — a conscious decision to confront systemic oppression, even if it means risking or sacrificing one’s life. Newton believed that the struggle for justice and liberation was worth the potential cost, as living passively under oppression was akin to a slow death. It’s about living a life of purpose, integrity, and resistance rather than succumbing to fear or despair.

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