The Huey P. Newton Foundation, honoring the legacy of the Black Panther Party, and the UNM African American Studies Program, mark the 40th anniversary of the Black Panther Party Feb. 16-21. An unprecedented slate of speakers and special guests, including a host of former Black Panthers, are scheduled to visit the main campus, said Finnie Coleman, AAS director.
Events include a series of panel discussions, book signing, performance, luncheon and more.
Participants include David Hilliard, who was a founding member of the Black Panther Party and served as its chief of staff, and Fredrika Newton, Black Panther Party member and wife of the late Huey P. Newton, along with former Black Panther Party members Ericka Huggins, director of the BPP school (The Oakland Learning Center) and Billy (Che) Brooks, who served as deputy minister of education for the Chicago chapter.
The UNM Bookstore will serve as the launch site for the anticipated release of “Huey: Spirit of the Panther (Thunder's Mouth Press, 2006).” Hilliard, a co-author, and Newton, will be present to sign copies of this and other books on Friday, Feb. 17, from 10-11:30 a.m.
Elaine Brown, the only woman to chair the party, will speak at luncheon Sunday, Feb. 19, from 11:30- 1 p.m. in the SUB. In the afternoon, Hilliard, Brooks and film artists host a film festival dedicated to the history and legacy of the party.
A panel discussion “Origins of the Black Panther Party” featuring Brown, Hilliard, Newton and Huggins is set for Saturday, Feb. 18, from 10-11:30 a.m. in the SUB. At 1:30 p.m., Dorion Hilliard and James Calhoun will present “Black Panthers to Hip Hop.” At 9 p.m., the Black Panther F.U.G.I.T.I.V.E.S. and Thomas Mapfumo, along with other performers, will be at Keller Hall.
Dennis Banks, co-founder of the American Indian Movement, and Mark Rudd, co-founder of the Weather Underground, will join Hilliard to discuss resistance movements of the 1960s and 70s on Tuesday, Feb. 21, from 1 - 3 p.m. at the SUB.
A gala benefit scheduled for Friday, Feb. 17, has been cancelled.
Held in honor of Black History Month, all events are open to the public, most are free. Click here for schedule, ticket prices and detailed information.
For more information, call the UNM African American Studies Department, 505-277-5644, or email afamstds@unm.edu or coleman@unm.edu , or visit: http://www.unm.edu/~afamstds/history.htm.
Contact: Laurie Mellas, (505) 277-5915; e-mail: lmellas@unm.edu
Posted by scarr at February 8, 2006 03:41 PM