Pratt was raised in Morgan City, Louisiana and served two combat tours in the Vietnam War. Following his service, Pratt used the GI Bill to attend UCLA where he joined the Black Panther Party. Following the murder of organization leaders John Huggins and Alprentice “Bunchy” Carter, Pratt was made Minister of Defense. In 1971, Pratt's wife Saundra was killed while eight months pregnant. The murder was blamed on a Party schism between supporters of Huey Newton and supporters of Eldridge Cleaver.
In 1970 Pratt was convicted for the murder of Caroline Olsen and spent 27 years in prison before the conviction was overturned in 1997. Pratt's conviction became a rallying cry for rights groups who believed he had been framed for his involvement in the Black Panther Party. After his release, Pratt told CNN that he held no bitterness about the many years he spent behind bars. Of the 27 years he spent in prison, Pratt said eight was in solitary confinement. He said his spirituality and love of music helped him through that period. "My mantra was the blues. It would go through my head when I was going through my meditations," Pratt said.
Following his release from prison, Pratt continued to work on behalf of men and women believed to be wrongfully incarcerated, including participation in rallies in support of Mumia Abu-Jamal.

For more information on Pratt, click here.