SPECIAL EVENTS

In partnership with Project Row Houses, the Carl Hampton Memorial Committee presents a Black Panther Exhibition and Auction on Thursday, July 22nd, 7-10pm, in the ground level spaces of the historic Eldorado Ballroom, 2320 Elgin Street (at Dowling). These two events are part of a weekend of activities that commemorate the life of Carl Hampton and the 40th Anniversary of his assassination.

BLACK PANTHER EXHIBITION including the works of EMORY DOUGLAS
The Black Panther Art exhibit will focus on the contributions and sacrifice made by Carl B. Hampton, a Houston Black Panther Leader and People's Party II chairman. Hampton was a tireless organizer whose struggle to better his community was cut short when he was gunned down by Police on July 26, 1970. Historical Black Panther covers, photographs, film and literature on Carl B. Hampton and the Black Panther Legacy will be available, free to the public.

The Carl B. Hampton 40th Anniversary Memorial Art Fundraiser brings together many contemporary artists who are picking up where other freedom fighters left off. This fundraiser brings together artists working in drawing, painting and photography. Some of the featured artists include: Emory Douglas, Robert Pruitt, Jabari Anderson, George Smith, William Cordova, Robert Hodge, Regina Agu, Kaneem Smith, Ayanna Joviet McCloud, Nathaniel Donnett, Keijiro Suzuki and Steffani Jemison.

Carl Hampton, a dynamic young Black Panther leader and Chairman of Houston’s People’s Party II, was assassinated by the Houston Police Department on July 26, 1970. This blow against the Black Power Movement in Houston of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s was struck in the heart of the Black/African community on Dowling Street.

National guests include:
Professor Kathleen Neal Cleaver
(Senior Lecturer and Research Fellow Emory University School of Law, former member Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, First Female Member Black Panther Party Central Committee)

Emory Douglas
(Former Minister of Culture Black Panther Party, Artist for Black Panther Party and its newspaper)

Billy X Jennings
(Organizer & Archivist Black Panther Party)

Robert Hillary King
(Freed member of Angola 3 after 29 years in solitary confinement, Author: From The Bottom of The Heap)

Charles “Boko” Freeman
(Former member Houston Chapter Black Panther Party and People’s Party II, comrade of Carl B. Hampton)

Dr. Charles Jones
(Associate Professor and Founding Chair, Department of African- American Studies Georgia State University, Author: The Black Panther Party Reconsidered)

All proceeds from the fundraiser will go towards a headstone for Carl B. Hampton's burial site and the July 23-26 programs. The commemoration weekend will also include the following events:

Thursday, July 22, 2010 Black Panther Party Art Exhibit & Art Auction
Project Row Houses, 2329 Elgin & Dowling in the lower level of the historic Eldorado Ballroom
7:00pm-10:00pm

Friday, July 23, 2010 The Angola Three (Play)
University of Houston Cullen Performance Hall, 4800 Calhoun
8:00pm (Call 832-494-4027 for Ticket Prices)

Saturday, July 24, 2010 Strategies For Change Conference
Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland Public Administration Building at Texas Southern University, 3100 Cleburne
9:00am-3:00pm

Saturday, July 24, 2010 BPP Exhibition and Talk – Emory Douglas and Billy X
Project Row Houses, 2329 Elgin & Dowling
4:00pm

Saturday, July 24, 2010 Community Commemoration – Featuring Professor Kathleen Cleaver
Emancipation Park, 3018 Elgin
6:00pm-9:00pm

Monday, July 26, 2010 Gravesite Remembrance
Golden Gate Cemetery, 8400 Hirsch Road Houston, Texas
6pm