Top 10 Things Judas and the Black Messiah Got Factually Right and Wrong
#10: William O’Neal Was a Car Thief
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When we’re introduced to O’Neal, he poses as an FBI agent who uses his fake badge to steal a car. The guys at the pool hall catch on to O’Neal’s ruse, leading to his arrest. Although a few liberties are taken, it’s not too far from the truth. According to O’Neal, he stole a car with a buddy one night. They drove it to Michigan and after shooting some pool, the two had an accident and took a bus back to Chicago. While O’Neal wasn’t arrested on the spot, he was contacted by FBI agent Roy Martin Mitchell a few months later about the stolen vehicle. Mitchell eventually told O’Neal that the charges against him would be dropped if he infiltrated the Black Panther Party.
#9: Free Breakfast for Children
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Although the FBI painted Fred Hampton as a criminal, his goal was to make the world a better place. One of the many ways he did this was through the Free Breakfast for Children program, as seen in the movie. Launched by the Black Panther Party, the program fed thousands of hungry children on a daily basis. In addition to organizing five breakfast programs in Chicago’s West Side, Hampton aspired to help provide free medical services. Nevertheless, the FBI claimed that the breakfast program served as a way to brainwash children, falsely calling it “nefarious activity.” Authorities would raid the programs, even while kids were eating. Not long after Hampton’s death, Black Panther co-founder Huey P. Newton would emphasize the importance of the breakfast program.
#8: Jake Winters’ Death
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One of the Black Panther members prominently depicted in the film is Spurgeon “Jake” Winters. In an especially tense sequence, an armed Jake finds himself in a shootout with the cops. At least two officers are shot dead before Jake is gunned down. Winters did indeed die during a police shootout on November 13, 1969, less than a month before Hampton met his tragic end. Officers John J. Gilhooly and Frank G. Rappaport reportedly died during the gunfight as well. Where Winters acts alone in the film, reports suggest that fellow Panther Lawrence “Lance” Bell was also present, although he was only wounded. In his memory, the Panthers named a free medical clinic after Winters.
#7: O’Neal Worked Closely with Roy Mitchell
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While Mitchell reportedly had nine Black Panther informants prior to the December 1969 raid, O’Neal easily had the biggest impact. Actors Lakeith Stanfield and Jesse Plemons do an authentic job at capturing their dynamic. As the film depicts, Mitchell wasn’t just O’Neal’s main contact at the FBI. O’Neal visited Mitchell’s house, met his young child, and even had dinner with him. Developing a relaxed rapport, O’Neal went as far as to describe Mitchell as a “role model.” According to U.S. District Judge Charles Kocoras, “He became like a father to O’Neal and he trusted Roy at a time when not many people trusted anybody.” The two collaborated on the floor plan for Hampton’s apartment, earning O’Neal a $300 bonus.
#6: Hampton Was Arrested Over Ice Cream
According to O’Neal, the FBI attempted to find evidence of Hampton doing drugs, but they never could because he was clean. Hampton would face jail time, however, over $71 worth of ice cream bars. He was accused of stealing from a Good Humor Ice Cream van in Maywood. Hampton testified that he wasn’t at the scene of the crime, telling reporters out-of-court, “I may be a pretty big mother, but I can’t eat no 710 ice-cream bars.” Nevertheless, he was convicted and sentenced to two to five years, a punishment Hampton found excessive and unfair. Hampton didn’t serve the full time, as he was eventually released on an appeal bond. Eight days before Hampton’s death, the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the conviction.
#5: J. Edgar Hoover’s Vendetta
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Martin Sheen portrays FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover as a ruthless figure who’ll stop at nothing to get Hampton off the streets. Sheen’s chilling performance isn’t exaggerated. Hoover called the Black Panther Party, “the greatest threat to the internal security of the country.” He also issued a directive to “prevent the rise of a 'messiah' who could unify, and electrify, the militant black nationalist movement.” The FBI labeled Hampton a “radical threat,” despite lacking evidence to back up such claims. Hampton wasn’t the only prominent African-American activist Hoover monitored, keeping a close eye on Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali as well. Through COINTELPRO, a “dirty tricks” program, Hoover targeted the Nation of Islam and Martin Luther King Jr.'s Southern Christian Leadership Conference, along with the Panthers.
#4: Attack on Panther Office
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During Hampton’s incarceration for the ice cream robbery, the police raided a Black Panther office. This snowballed into a shootout, although we’re not sure if O’Neal was present as the film suggests. In any case, five officers and three Panthers were injured, but nobody died. In addition to making arrests, the authorities purposely left the office in a fiery state of disarray to send a message. At the encouragement of Black Panther co-founder Bobby Seale, the office was reopened shortly after and the party began to rebuild. The community banded together to fix the building up and soon enough, the office was back in business.
#3: George W. Sams Jr. Was Behind Alex Rackley’s Death
According to the film, Sams and Rackley also infiltrated the Black Panther Party. Although Sams and Rackley were both accused of secretly working with the authorities, this remains unconfirmed. Either way, “Judas and the Black Messiah” was right about Rackley’s grim fate. Sams had Rackley kidnapped and tortured for two days at the New Haven Panther office. At Sams’ request, fellow Panthers Warren Kimbro and Lonnie McLucas shot Rackley dead. During the 1970 New Haven Black Panther trials, Sams testified that he acted on Bobby Seale’s orders. No additional evidence of Seale’s involvement was found, but he was arrested and tried with Ericka Huggins. Ultimately, Seale and Huggins were acquitted while Sams and Kimbro were convicted. McLucas was also acquitted, save a conspiracy charge.
#2: O’Neal Was Asked to Drug Hampton
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In addition to drawing the floor plan for Hampton’s apartment, O’Neal is instructed to give him barbiturates prior to the film’s climactic raid. During a 1989 interview, shortly before taking his own life, O’Neal was asked if Hampton had been drugged. O’Neal denied this, saying, “Fred was the type of person that you didn't have to drug anyway. Fred was always tired.” However, barbiturates were found in Hampton’s blood. O’Neal was at Hampton’s apartment for a late dinner and left around 1:30 a.m. Hampton was in the middle of talking to his mother on the phone when he suddenly fell asleep. Not long after, the raid commenced. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Deborah Johnson’s Pregnancy She Was More Than Eight Months Pregnant When Tragedy Struck Hampton Negotiated Pacts He Sought to Peacefully Unite Chicago’s Gangs
#1: Fred Hampton’s Death
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Like “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” “Judas and the Black Messiah” is accurate in its depiction of Hampton’s death. At 4:00 A.M. on December 4, 1969, a team of police officers arrived at Hampton’s Monroe Street residence. 45 minutes later, they stormed the apartment with several Panthers inside. Mark Clark, who stood guard with a shotgun, was killed as the heavily armed cops riddled the apartment with bullets. A sedated Hampton slept on a mattress with Deborah Johnson, who was pulled out of their room by the authorities. As the team entered Hampton’s bedroom, two additional shots could be heard. According to Johnson, one officer said, “He’s good and dead now.” Hampton died at age 21, but his legacy would live on.
