Panthers After the Party: A Conversation on Black Power Afterlives
The Black Panther Party (BPP) has made an undeniable impact on the iconography, language, culture and practice of revolutionary struggles since the mid-1960s. Join former BPP members/political prisoners in a discussion about commitment, creativity, continuity, and how to best cultivate and sustain resistance.
Speakers include Ericka Huggins, Hank Jones, Sekou Odinga, and Akinsanya Kambon - all contributors to Black Panther Afterlives: The Enduring Significance of the Black Panther Party edited by Diane Fujino and Matef Harmachis. This event will be moderated by Nathaniel Moore of the Freedom Archives.
Black Power Afterlives is a powerful and wide-ranging collection examining the persistent impact of the Black Panther Party on subsequent liberation struggles. Purchase it 30% off here: https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/1472-black-power-afterlives
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Speakers:
Ericka Huggins is an educator, leading Black Panther Party member, former political prisoner, human rights advocate, and poet. For 45 years Ericka has lectured in the United States and internationally on Restorative Practices and the role of spiritual practice in creating social change.
Henry “Hank” Jones is a former USA-held political prisoner. He has been an activist since 1955 when he felt compelled by the racist torture and murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till. Hank worked with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in San Francisco from 1963 then joined the Black Panther Party for Self Defense in 1967. In 2003 he was one of the former Panthers known as the San Francisco 8 targeted by Homeland Security. Hank continues to do social justice, political prisoner and human rights work.
Sekou Odinga is a founding member of the New York Black Panther Party and the International Section of the Black Panther Party. He was a soldier in the Black Liberation Army and a political prisoner for 33 years. Since exiting prison in 2014 he has been a public speaker, writer, political activist and founder of the North East Political Prisoner Coalition.
Akinsanya Kambon is former Lieutenant of Culture for the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, Sacramento Chapter. He created the Black Panther Coloring Book to bring attention to racial inequality and social injustice. After the Panther Party, Kambon dedicated himself to Pan-Africanism, teaching African spirituality, religions, history, and culture through multimedia art. In 1984 he founded Pan African Art in Long Beach, CA. Continuing the Panther ideology he provides free programs for youth in art, leadership and culture. His ceramic sculptures are presently on exhibition, “American Expressions/African Roots,” at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento.
Nathaniel Moore (moderator) is the archivist and co-director at the Freedom Archives. He holds degrees in African Studies, African-American Studies, and Library and Information Science. He has been active in prisoner support work for the past decade.