Wednesday, December 16, 2009
To............
Bro. BJ, Bro. Smitty & Sistah Cleo: who were
there from the very first meetings in March 2009, when so many
others thought it could not or need not be done. Your true revolutionary
commitment and uncompromising support throughout, is what really made both The 40th Anniversary Panthers &
Lords Film Festival and; "The
40th Anniversary Reunion & Tribute For The NY Panther 21" become
a reality. Without the three of you standing with me throughout the
past (9) months on each
and every aspect Of this successful project;
"Ourstory" would not have been told.
Bro. Afrika Bambaataa, Bro. Yoda, Sen-One, Dr. Shaka Zulu, Uncle
Ces, Bro. Maliki, Bro. Ernie P., DFylthee, GQ, Pop Fabel, Christie & The Universal Zulu Nation:
who collectively provided transportation, video documentation,
photography, DJ music, radio/electronic promotions, newspaper
coverage and security throughout the entire (2) weeks of the Panther
& Lords Film Festival and Tribute/Reception/After Party for The NY
Panther 21.
Young Lords Party and/or Black Panther Party Veterans; Miguel
"Mickey" Melendez, Felipe Luciano, David Jacob, Martha Aguello, Iris
Morales, Denise Oliver, Cleo Silvers, Jamal Joseph, Shaba Om, Ali-Bey Hassan,
Dhoruba Bin Wahad, Cyril "Bullwhip Innis" & James
"Tarik" Haskins: for participating in the (2)
weeks of "Panthers
& Lords: In Unity & Struggle" film screenings and
panel discussions that were held at the Harlem Maysles
Cinema. And; to Veteran Lords Panama
Alba for spreading the word & Cha Cha Jimenez
for supporting this project from the very beginning.
Bro's Billy X & The Its About Time BPP Alumni
Association and Bro. Bullwhip & The East Coast Black Panther Party
Commemoration Committee: for providing all of the Black
Panther Party archival graphics and photographs that were utilized for the
event promotions, display and Commemorative Journal.
To Panther Exiles In Afrika; Pete O'neal, Charlotte O'neal
& Michael "Cetewayo" Tabor: for
finding both the time and the way to get your statements on this side of the
Atlantic to be shared by us all.
King Downing, Liz Fink, Robert Boyle, Sis. Sala & Bro. Tiyari:
for participating and bringing both a legal & youthful
perspective to the panel discussions
Monifa Bandele, T.J. Whitaker, Sofia Gallisa & Miles Rijper:
for moderating the panel discussions and successfully keeping us Panthers &
Lords from taking over the Q & A sessions.
Jessica, Philip & the Maysles Institute Staff and Family:
for providing housing for the out of town Panthers, providing the Cinema space,
and most of all; for becoming true Comrades in the struggle by using
"Culture As A Revolutionary
Tool For Truth & Liberation Of Oppressed People"
It has been a pleasure to work with you and we are definitely looking forward
to working on our next project together.
Sis. Jacqueline & Women of Color Productions: for
providing financial transportation support and; for bringing a fresh &
new approach to "revolutionary
street theater"
It takes a lot for non-Panthers & Lords to convince us that they can
historically represent our struggle; but you never gave up and hopefully we can
build together for future events.
Sis. Asantewaa & The Guillermo Morales/Assata Shakur Center: for
nearly (3) months of answering the phones, providing information and
taking the messages for this event.
Sis. Yasmine, Bro. Bullwhip & Cde. Ron Painter:
for steppin up to the plate with the "last minute-late night" layout
work that was needed to make the NY Panther 21 Commemorative Journal get
completed in time for the Tribute.
Sis. Yasmin Ramirez & The Center For Puerto Rican Studies @
Hunter College: for providing the beautifully mounted Young Lords
Party Posters which were displayed and appreciated by everyone throughout the
(2) weeks of events.
Sis. Aliya & Sis. Yasmine: for
providing accurate and timely accounting/documentation of the Tribute event
finances.
Bro. Dhoruba, Bro. Ali-Bey & Sistah Dawn McGhee: for
assisting me in the research which finally corrected the previously
false recorded historical facts around the 1969 case of The NY Panther 21
Conspiracy Trial.
Bro. Shaka Shakur & Cde. Sally O'Brien : for
steppin up to the plate to provide the necessary "emergency" technical/audiovisual
assistance during the Panther 21 Tribute @ CCNY.
Dr. Leonard Jeffries, Sistah Kenya, Bro. Hank & The CCNY Black
Studies Program: for doing all of the "unseen" work that was
needed to secure the space @ CCNY for the Panther 21 Tribute.
Bro. Dr. James McIntosh & CEMOTAP: for their
continued financial support & organizing efforts to Political
Prisoner/POW campaigns in general; and for The Safiya-Nuh Foundation in
particular. Many, Many hundreds of dollars have been raised through
their organizing in support of our Captured Black Freedom Fighters &
both Bro. James & CEMOTAP must be recognized for their efforts.
Bro. Herb Boyd: who once again
provided his journalist skills during the Panther 21 Tribute, with
the latest installment of Straight
Of Harlem: "Live With Heb Boyd & The NY Panther 21"
Sis. Dawn McGhee, Jamal Joseph & Lee Berry:
for working so hard & providing the resources during the last week; in
order to put the Panther 21 ("Wrack 21") & Sundiata
Acoli ("A Power Sun") preview film clips together in time
for the NY Panther 21 Tribute.
Sistah's Joyce, Ndigo, Iris & Martha:
for helping to bring the ancestors to the Tribute during the opening drum
call & libation ceremony; thereby removing any and all potential
obstacles throughout the evening.
Sistah's Adrienne & Empress:
for changing their original plans and preparing food for the After Party
instead of The Tribute.
Sis. Dequi & Bro. Squeeze:
for carrying on the legacy of the BPC and doing a most outstanding job in
hosting the Tribute. You both were able to smoothly
"Keep It Moving" throughout the entire
evening.
Bro. Lalit & The Malcolm X Grassroots Movement and Bro. Shaka
& The NY New Black Panther Party: for all
of the "seen" & "unseen" support that your cadre
provided both before and during the (2) week event.
Maroon Society: for kickin it off and
setting the tone for the Tribute with some real true
skool "Revolutionary
Hip Hop Flavor", although the little Brotha stole the
show.
Impact: for bringing down the house with an
overall outstanding performance which was enjoyed by both young &
old. Youth do indeed make the revolution
Rebel Diaz: for your patience with the
lineup change and agreeing to close out this historic revolutionary Tribute
exactly as it should have been done.
By continuing the Young Lords & Panther legacy of Black/Latino
Unity & Struggle through true skool Revolutionary Hip Hop Culture.
Finally! To All Of The Organizations & Individuals Who
Contributed To The Journal, Participated In The Event Or Helped To Pass On The
Word.
Thank You All & Always Know That Together There Is Absolutely
Nothing That We Cannot Accomplish
All Power To The
People
Free All Political Prisoners & POW's
Bro. Sadiki "Shep" Ojore Olugbala
Safiya Bukhari-Albert Nuh Washington Foundation