The Black
Panther Party: Making Sense of History
Photographs by Stephen Shames
January 23–April 9, 2006
Kreps and Lyndhurst Galleries
RECEPTION
Thursday, February 16, 6–9 p.m.
Artist’s Talk at 7 p.m.
As an undergraduate at UC-Berkeley in the late 1960s, Stephen Shames
went out to photograph the emerging Black Panther Party. He began
with an interesting project for his photography class and ended
up with a lens inside history. His images—strong, clear, direct
black-and-white work—demonstrate that even as a young photographer
he had a keen eye for both subject and light. His subject matter
ranges from the public events familiar to many of us to intimate
shots of life inside the Panther Party houses and schools. The photographs
link the faces of women sorting and distributing bags of food to
the armed soldiers of the Black Panther Party, leaving us to sort
out the meaning of these important moments in U.S. history.
PANEL DISCUSSION
Thursday, January 26, 7 p.m.
“Recovering the Panther Legacy of Community Organizing and
Activism,” moderated by Timothy B. Tyson, author of Blood
Done Sign My Name
Participating panelists: Charles
E. Jones, Chair, Department of African American Studies, Georgia
State University; Evans D. Hopkins, author of Life After Life:
A Story of Rage and Redemption and former North Carolina Black
Panther Party member; Jaki Shelton Green, poet/activist; and Nancy
Wilson, Associate Director for Programs, SpiritHouse.
PODCAST OF PANEL DISCUSSION (1 hour,
20 minutes)
large mp3 file (92 MB)—high
quality audio; ideal for downloading to an iPod or other portable
mp3 player; suitable for some high-speed Web connections
small mp3 file (9
MB)—ideal for listening over the Web on all connections
PHOTO GALLERY
ARTIST'S STATEMENT
The Black Panther Party burst upon our consciousness when Bobby
Seale and other Panthers marched upon the California State Capitol
in Sacramento armed with guns. The media had a field day and the
Panthers never overcame their first impression to the media, which
continued to emphasize guns. But the importance of the Black Panther
Party, then and now, cannot be seen so narrowly.
The Panthers did not encourage hatred and division. They were cosmopolitan
and non-parochial in their approach. They emphasized the universality,
rather than the differences, of humankind. Their “black pride”
was not based on denigrating whites, but on showing the black community
that they were in control of their own destiny.
The Black Panther Party sought to build a community through service
to the people. Toward this end, the BPP provided free food and clothing.
They started their own school to educate children of Panthers. They
gave purpose to the aimless, angry youth who loitered on street
corners. The Panthers molded these young people into disciplined,
hard workers who served their community and showed respect for mothers,
fathers, and elders.
The media missed this. They couldn’t see beyond the guns.
These issues have relevance today. As a nation we are in danger
of splintering apart ethnically and racially. The idea of community
and equality is being lost. Once again youth loiter without purpose.
Gun violence is the leading cause of death of young black males.
We order up more prison cells wondering what went wrong.
Perhaps a look back at the role of the Black Panther Party during
the turbulent sixties will help us better understand the present.
The Panthers, though politically immature, were visionary in their
approach.
First of all, we might just learn how to stem the tide of ethnic
provincialism and racism that is on the rise in both white and black
communities. Studying the Panthers will help us regain the ideals
of coalition and positive pride.
Secondly, it is important for us to understand that many of the
issues addressed by the BPP are being implemented today. For example,
Community Policing—an ideal that cost many Panthers their
lives—is the hottest topic among law enforcement today. Police
in San Diego and scores of other cities hold community meetings
to determine community needs and work with residents to fight crime.
Community service is once again in vogue. Successful community programs
use youth service as a strategy to reduce violence. President Clinton
proposed youth service as a national program during his administration.
What can we learn from the Panthers about their vision of community?
About service? About ethnic pride and love? About coalition politics?
What can we learn from the Panthers?
A lot!
—Stephen Shames
banner image:
Partial view of the Lyndhurst Gallery, one of four exhibition spaces
at CDS. Photograph by Christoper Sims.
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