Judas and the Black Messiah has stimulated more interest in Illinois Deputy Chairman, Fred Hampton. As a native of Fred's hometown of Maywood, Illinois, Dr. Sherrod adds additional "local color" to Fred's awe-inspiring background with the hope that more people will come to know the truth. People who quest for liberty and justice all over the world revere Fred Hampton. Love for the people, as we clearly see today, is in and of itself a revolutionary act. Fred was a beautiful human being--loved by many across the racial spectrum. If you don't know about him, by all means check out the movie, Judas and the Black Messiah, this podcast, and some of the many books written that contain information about this forever young real life Black Panther King. (Shout out to Ryan Coogler, whose integrity and brilliance in filmmaking is unsurpassed, for being a producer of this film.)
Long life the beautiful spirit of Chairman Fred Hampton.
Here are some resources about Fred and the Panthers:
The Essence of Fred Hampton: An Attempt to Capture the Spirit of a Young Man Who Influenced So Many and to Pass It On to Those Who Didn’t Have the Opportunity to Meet Him, edited by William Hampton. This is a wonderful, but hard to find, collection of thoughts on Fred Hampton by people who knew him. This booklet was lovingly compiled by Fred’s brother, the late William “Bill” Hampton. (Years ago, I saw a copy of it at the Oak Park, Illinois library!)
The Assassination of Fred Hampton, by Jeffrey Haas (Jeff Haas was one of the attorneys who waged a years long legal battle in civil court on behalf of Fred's family, Panther Mark Clark's family, and others, after they were assassinated. The case, after an 18 month trial and then an appeal, finally culminated in a settlement in 1983.)
Fred Hampton: 20th Commemoration by The December 4th Committee http://peopleslawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Hampton.-20th-Anniversary-Booklet-1989.pdf. This is a very informative commemoration booklet about Fred Hampton that was produced 20 years after the assassination by people who knew him.
People's Law Office (This is the law office that represented Fred Hampton and, later, his family.) The website contains a cornucopia of information on the Panthers and the legal work the Law Office did on behalf of Panther members. https://peopleslawoffice.com/the-assassination-of-fred-hampton-a-short-peoples-history/
Black Against Empire by Joshua Bloom and Waldo E. Martin, Jr. This is considered one of the most comprehensive works written about the Black Panthers by an outsider with a scholarly interest in the different chapters of the Party.
From the Bullet to the Ballot: The Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party and Racial Coalition in Chicago by Jakobi Williams. This book was written by another Panther scholar—a professor who grew up in Chicago with an interest in, and, therefore, an emphasis on, the Chicago Chapter of the Party.
The Black Panthers Speak edited by Philip S. Foner. This is an early compilation of speeches by Panther Party members.
Revolutionary Suicide by Huey P. Newton. This is an autobiography of Huey P. Newton, who, along with Bobby Seale, founded the Black Panther Party in Oakland, California in 1966.
A Taste of Power: A Black Woman’s Story by Elaine Brown. This is an absorbing memoir by the only woman to be Chairman of the national Party when Huey P. Newton left her in charge after he went into exile.
