The Two Sides of a Revolution

Rewatching Judas and the Black Messiah reveals how history is rarely simple. It is layered, full of contradictions, and deeply human. The story of Fred Hampton and Bill O’Neal shows this clearly. Their lives reflect the complexity of the Civil Rights and Black Power movements, and the ways in which systems of power exploited divisions within Black communities.

A split image: one half showing Fred Hampton speaking passionately to a crowd, the other half showing a shadowed figure representing Bill O’Neal’s secrecy.

Two Lives, Two Worlds

Bill O’Neal was barely an adult when the FBI pulled him into their orbit. At 18 or 19, he faced a choice shaped by survival and power, but he did not fully understand what he was becoming part of. Raised in the suburbs, O’Neal was disconnected from the political struggles shaping Black America. He was not radical or politically aware, which made him vulnerable to manipulation.

Fred Hampton’s life was very different. His parents were active in the NAACP, and his home was a place where ideas of liberation were taught and lived. From a young age, Hampton understood injustice and the power of community organizing. By 21, he was not just speaking about change, he was building it. Programs like the Free Breakfast Program and the Rainbow Coalition brought people together across racial and class lines. This vision threatened the state because it challenged the status quo.

The contrast between Hampton and O’Neal highlights how context, education, and awareness shape people’s choices. Even during the height of the Civil Rights movement, Black America was not a monolith. There were those who built the movement, those who feared it, and those caught in between, struggling to survive.

The Government’s Strategy to Divide and Conquer

The government’s COINTELPRO program exploited these divisions. It understood that the surest way to destroy a revolution was from within. This was not just about raids or violence. It was about quietly recruiting informants who did not realize they were helping to dismantle their own communities.

Bill O’Neal’s role was not driven by ideology. It was shaped by a system that taught him not to question his place. His betrayal was a product of manipulation, survival, and a lack of political grounding. Fred Hampton’s death was no accident. It was a calculated move to stop a movement that united people across race and class.

The Power of Community in the Face of Betrayal

Fred Hampton’s vision was rooted in community. The Free Breakfast Program fed children who might otherwise go hungry. The Rainbow Coalition brought together groups that rarely worked together. These efforts showed how community could be a powerful force for change.

Even after betrayal and loss, the power of community remains. Hampton’s words still resonate: “You can kill a revolutionary, but you can’t kill the revolution.” His legacy reminds us that movements are bigger than any one person. They live on through the people who continue to organize, resist, and build.

Lessons for Today

The tactics used against Hampton and O’Neal are still in play today. Different names, same strategies. Ignorance is weaponized against unity. Comfort is used to discourage courage. Understanding this history helps us recognize these patterns and resist them.

Building strong communities based on education, awareness, and shared purpose is essential. It requires recognizing the complexities within movements and the challenges individuals face. It means supporting those who organize and protecting them from manipulation.

Moving Forward with Awareness and Unity

Fred Hampton’s story teaches us that change requires more than passion. It requires knowledge, connection, and resilience. Betrayal can happen, but it does not have to define the movement. The power of community can overcome division.

We must remember the lessons of the past to build a future where unity is stronger than manipulation. The revolution lives on in every effort to bring people together for justice and equality.

-Smart Brown Girl