Eldridge Cleaver
Eldridge cleaver was the son of a nightclub piano player, he was born in Wabbaseka, Arkansas in 1935. His family shortly moved to Los Angeles. In his early teenage year he was already facing troubles, hanging out with the wrong crowd and doing the wrong things so as a result his parents decided to make Eldridge switch schools and try and get him on the right path. But sadly, Eldridge didn’t stay on the right path and he stole a bike and sold marijuana. He was shortly arrested for possession of marijuana. And from this his path started.
During Cleaver’s time in prison he became very interested in politics and read many books. In 1957 Cleaver was released from prison, but the following year he was arrested and charged with attempted murder. He was found guilty and sentenced to a term of fourteen years in jail! When he was in jail he began reading books about black civil rights and he was particularly influenced by the writings of Malcolm X. After finishing his time in jail Cleaver joined the Black Panther Party (BPP). Shortly he was known as one of the leaders. Cleaver was now known as a black socialist guy in the government.
On December 27th, 1967 Cleaver got married, the following year he published his memoirs “Soul on Ice”. Cleaver was now known as one of America’s most important political figures. Some of the activities that the Black Panthers were doing were attracting public attention and the FBI didn’t like that they seen the panthers as a threat to the best security in the country. Therefore the FBI wanted to do damage to the Panthers. On April 6th, 1968 eight Black Panther members, including Cleaver were traveling in two cars when they were ambushed by the Oakland Police. Cleaver and Bobby Hutton ran for cover and went to a nearby basement where they were surrounded by policemen. The two men were left with no choice but to surrender, a tear gas was thrown into the basement Cleaver was wounded in the leg so Hutton decided to leave the building first and he was instantly shot 12 times and died immediately.
Cleaver was once again arrested and charged with attempted murder. He was given bail and fled to Mexico. He spent time going to places all over the world. While Cleaver was on punishment he had some disagreements with Huey Newton and in 1971 he expelled him for the Black Panther Party. Soon afterwards Cleaver formed the Revolutionary People's Communication Network and he wife helped him establish the party. After traveling in cuba for a little while Cleaver finally returned to the United States in 1975 and he was now a Christian with different beliefs. The 1968 shoot-out was brought up again and Cleaver was found guilty and charged for assault. He was sent to jail for another year and he had a five year probation and directed to perform 2,000 hours of community service. Another member of the BPP got charged with the same offence and got charged with 10 years in prison.
Cleaver eventually moved on with his life and became a tree surgeon for a while then shortly divorced his wife. He started struggling with a drug problem and it continued to get worse and worse later down the line. When Cleaver was buying some cocaine he was knocked out and just left in the middle of nowhere. He was sent to the hospital, after his release he started working and volunteering at a local church. In 1988 he was placed on probation in 1998 after convictions for burglary and cocaine possession. On May 1st, 1998 Eldridge Cleaver died at Pomona Valley Medical Center and his family requested to not know the reason for his death.
During Cleaver’s time in prison he became very interested in politics and read many books. In 1957 Cleaver was released from prison, but the following year he was arrested and charged with attempted murder. He was found guilty and sentenced to a term of fourteen years in jail! When he was in jail he began reading books about black civil rights and he was particularly influenced by the writings of Malcolm X. After finishing his time in jail Cleaver joined the Black Panther Party (BPP). Shortly he was known as one of the leaders. Cleaver was now known as a black socialist guy in the government.
On December 27th, 1967 Cleaver got married, the following year he published his memoirs “Soul on Ice”. Cleaver was now known as one of America’s most important political figures. Some of the activities that the Black Panthers were doing were attracting public attention and the FBI didn’t like that they seen the panthers as a threat to the best security in the country. Therefore the FBI wanted to do damage to the Panthers. On April 6th, 1968 eight Black Panther members, including Cleaver were traveling in two cars when they were ambushed by the Oakland Police. Cleaver and Bobby Hutton ran for cover and went to a nearby basement where they were surrounded by policemen. The two men were left with no choice but to surrender, a tear gas was thrown into the basement Cleaver was wounded in the leg so Hutton decided to leave the building first and he was instantly shot 12 times and died immediately.
Cleaver was once again arrested and charged with attempted murder. He was given bail and fled to Mexico. He spent time going to places all over the world. While Cleaver was on punishment he had some disagreements with Huey Newton and in 1971 he expelled him for the Black Panther Party. Soon afterwards Cleaver formed the Revolutionary People's Communication Network and he wife helped him establish the party. After traveling in cuba for a little while Cleaver finally returned to the United States in 1975 and he was now a Christian with different beliefs. The 1968 shoot-out was brought up again and Cleaver was found guilty and charged for assault. He was sent to jail for another year and he had a five year probation and directed to perform 2,000 hours of community service. Another member of the BPP got charged with the same offence and got charged with 10 years in prison.
Cleaver eventually moved on with his life and became a tree surgeon for a while then shortly divorced his wife. He started struggling with a drug problem and it continued to get worse and worse later down the line. When Cleaver was buying some cocaine he was knocked out and just left in the middle of nowhere. He was sent to the hospital, after his release he started working and volunteering at a local church. In 1988 he was placed on probation in 1998 after convictions for burglary and cocaine possession. On May 1st, 1998 Eldridge Cleaver died at Pomona Valley Medical Center and his family requested to not know the reason for his death.