Huey extorted from Pimps and drug dealers so lets put that into perspective. ON the other hand, when you extort criminals in your neighborhood you are actually becoming their partner so its not the correct political position to take if you want prostitution and drugs out of your neighborhood.
You must read will you die with me by FLores Forbes. Its an autobiography of a panther who was there in oakland with HUey during the height of things. Homie got locked up, did his time and all that. He's doing good now with a nice job and all that, I've bumped innthim a few times professionally. But the book gives you alot of details about shit they did and the life they lived during those times. Unfortunately for me, it let me also see Huey was deeply flawed and the panthers under his leadership did some real anti-revolutionary shit of which extortion is just one example.
All in all, they did something first and didn't have a blueprint, so they have an excuse, but the folks who come after them have no excuse, we have their example to learn from.
Give people props for their accomplishments, but don't idolize anyone. THese people are human beings with flaws just like you. Sometimes under immense pressure, these flaws are magnified greatly, remember theyre fighting the most powerful gov't in the world. Live, Learn and do better than those before you.
We stand on their shoulders, we should see further than them.
Peace.