This is a
well made documentary. It will give u a view of how the Malcolm X Grassroots
Movement
& hip-hop artists uses culture to honor Black
August n our political prisoners from the 60's & 70's.
What I really enjoyed, was seeing them interact with Assata
Shakur in Cuba.
There is also a bit of controversy when they go to Africa.
We r proud to have this film as the opening film 4 the BPP
Film Festival.
There will be Q&A with Dream Hampton filmmaker} along
with Lumumba & Monifa Bandele{ MXGM}This is a must a must see documentary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Joh92fGqANI&feature=player_embedded
In this day and age, the
thought of anyone being a political prisoner might seem antithetical and
outside the realm of possibility in a country like the United States, which is
supposed to value freedom and liberty. However, in the new documentary, Black
August: A Hip-Hop Benefit Concert, noted hip-hop journalist and filmmaker
Dream Hampton offers a look at black Americans who consider themselves to be
political prisoners inside the U.S and political exiles in countries such as
Cuba. The film which took the director 2 years to cut. The film includes
interviews with exiled activists Assata Shakur and Nehanda Abiodun who were in
fact the ones to call on some of those in attendance at a world youth festival
in Cuba to find a way to use hip-hop to "shed some light on the existence
of political prisoners in the U.S." That "way" spurred the
creation of the annual "Black August" event which is
produced by the nonprofit Malcolm X Grassroots Movement group of which
Dream Hampton is a member. The focus of the event is to, "raise awareness
about and support for political prisoners in the United States."
The term Black August derives from an
observance by prisoners after the death of George Jackson in 1971
at San Quentin by Prison Guards. The movement then became a "mandate"
with the death of Khatari Gaulden who was killed in prison in 1979. That's just
one of the many facts that you'll learn in the documentary.
You'll be reintroduced or reminded of names like Sekou
Odinga, Dr. Mutulu Shakur, Herman Bell and many others who are serving time,
some going on nearly 30 years. The film also revisits the FBI's program of
COINTELPRO and how that may have played a hand in the incarceration of the
aforementioned "political prisoners." The documentary also plays host
to a cast of those who are considered to be hip-hop's most conscious artists
and activists like Common, M-1 and stic.man of Dead Prez, as well as Mos Def
and Talib Kweli whose
performances from Black August events will be seen.
It's quite interesting to hear from many of the
hip-hop artists about the effects of being a part of this event and in turn to
be positively effected and humbled by their respective experiences in Cuba,
South Africa and other countries they've visited.
The importance of this film and the main reason you should
watch extends beyond the history and the performances that you will see.
Dream said it best "Because even if you don't
believe there are political prisoners in the United States even if you think
that these are some rabble-rouser revolutionaries who should of just listened
to Dr. King and voted and they deserve to be in jail, there is still the issue
of prison. George Jackson was not a political prisoner, he didn't go to jail
for political reasons. So one of the things we ask people to do around the
month of August is just remember prisoners.
Like we all have some family member, who, we just all
have people you know what I'm saying?" To that I believe we can say a resounding
yes.
10: A Black Panther Party Film Festival!
10. WE WANT
land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice and peace.
Wednesday, December 8th
Theme:
The Cultural
Revolution
7:00pm Film: “Black August"
Q&A with Dream Hampton {filmmaker}, Lumumba and
Monifa Bandele {MXGM}
Thursday,
December 9th
Theme: To Live and Die for the Struggle 7:00pm Film: “Fred
Hampton” from
Videofreex and Video Data Bank vdb.org
8:15pm
Film: Black Revolutionary George
Jackson
Q&A with May Jackson & Thomas “Blood” McCeary {BPP New
York State Chapter}
Friday,
December 10th
Theme: Unite to Fight
7:00pm Film: “Eldridge Cleaver: Black
Panther”
8:15 Film “Aoki” Q&A with “The Artist” Emory
Douglas [Min of Culture BPP & Jamal
Joseph {Panther
21 was nominated 4 an Academy Award 4 Achievement in music, written 4
motion pictures (Original song)Raise It Up” from “August Rush” (Warner
Bros.)Music and lyric by Jamal Joseph, Charles Mack and Tevin Thomas
Followed by
Reception with music**
Saturday,
December 11th
Theme:
Free You’re Mind
4:00pm
Film: “Cointelpro 101” Q&A with Ward
Churchill
7:00pm
Film "in the Land of the Free..." Followed by
& Party and book signing with King Wilkerson
Sunday,
December 12th
Theme:
Political Prisoners 2:00pm Film “Justice on Trial: The Case
of Mumia Abu-Jamal”
Q&A with Johanna Fernandez {Filmmaker} & Pam Africa
7pm Film “in the Land of the
Free..."
Q&A with: King Wilkerson {Freed Angola 3} &Vadim Jean
{Filmmaker}
Monday,
December 13th
Theme: Pass the
Torch
7:00pm "New Haven Oral
History"
Q&A
with: Rosemari Mealy of the New Haven Chapter {Others
TBA}
8:30pm Film “In Prison My Whole Life “
For
411: Full Schedule On-line Tickets go to: www.mayslesinstitute.org or
212.582.6050 ext 207.
BJ {William M. Johnson}
*WE WHO BELIEVE IN FREEDOM CANNOT REST*
http://www.commongroundrelief.org
www.angola3.org
I am because
we are
one
tribe
Children of the sun
shine
Let's ride, it's nation time
-Dead Prez