The Assassination of Fred Hampton

by Emily Mccusker

Fred Hampton was born on August 30, 1948, in Summit, Illinois, a southwest suburb of Chicago.[1] From a young age, he proved himself a capable leader. At Irving Elementary School, he became captain of the school’s Patrol Boys. He then attended Proviso East High School, an integrated school, and was elected to both the Interracial Cross Section Committee and the role of president of the Junior Achievement Program.[2]

As he considered his career path, Hampton decided to study prelaw at Triton College, a junior college in River Grove. He wanted a deeper understanding of the law in order to use it effectively against police brutality.[3] Hampton also became active in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He began leading the Youth Council of the organization’s West Suburban Branch, expanding the council to more than 500 members.[4] During the late 1960s, the Black Panther Party (BPP) was also gaining traction around the country. Intrigued and inspired by their ideals of socialism and self-determinism, Hampton moved to downtown Chicago and started working with the local chapter of the party. Soon, he became a prominent member of the organization due to his charismatic personality and knack for public speaking. He set up rallies around the city, worked with the People’s Clinic, and led a free breakfast program for children in the community.[5] This dedication earned him a spot next in line to be appointed the Central Committee Chief of Staff of the Black Panther Party. However, this position came with some risk, ultimately making Hampton a person of interest to the FBI.[6]

In 1968, the Black Panther Party teamed up with many other groups of a various races and ethnicities to create the Rainbow Coalition. Their mission was not only to run service programs for the poor and oppressed of Chicago, but also to encourage them to work together and end capitalism.[7] In fact, Hampton himself believed that capitalism was both an excuse for and byproduct of racism, and he advocated for a direct democratic government and socialist economy.[8] United States government officials, lawmakers, and mainstream society perceived these ideas as threatening, especially in the context of the Cold War.