The simple arrangement of Smith sitting in a chair stage-center makes the audience focus on the dialogue of the performer.

Newton grew up in Oakland after his family moved there from Louisiana due to the military opportunities during World War II.

The BPP had transformed itself in this period, and Newton struggled to cope with the demands placed on him, a situation that was not helped by his increasing consumption of drugs and alcohol.

During the 1970s Newton studied at the University of California Santa Cruz, where he obtained a PhD in the History of Consciousness program.

The production that brought A Huey P. Newton Story presented the movie in San Francisco by KQED.