Fredrika Newton joined the Black Panther Party (BPP) in 1969. She met Huey Newton in 1970, marrying him eleven years later in 1981. They lived together until Newton was killed in 1989.

In 1993 Fredrika Newtonjoined with David Hilliard to establish the Huey P. Newton Foundation, a non-profit educational organization. Serving as the Foundation's President, she operates the community-based programs, which include literacy, voter outreach and health-related components.