Elizabeth Catlett was an artist and educator from Washington, D.C., who repatriated to Mexico. "Black is Beautiful: Mother and Son" depicts a profile view of a Black woman and her child. Catlett captures the mother's grace and her son's curiosity as they look away from the viewer.
A newspaper article from The Star-Ledger about the testimony of defense witness Dr. Arthur Davidson during the trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. He testified about the wounds sustained by Shakur and argued that she could not have shot from the crouching position due to her wounds from the shootout.
A newspaper article from Daily News about the testimony of defense witness Dr. David Spain during the trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. He testified about the wounds she sustained, arguing that she couldn’t have shot from a crouching position due to the position of her wounds from the shootout.
A calendar from October (year unknown). Picture of Zimbabwe liberation fighters on the front. The calendar marks the dates of the People's Republic of China's founding, the formation of the Patriotic Front (Zimbabwe), and the USSR October Revolution.
On the card is a picture of Eldridge Cleaver with the quote "Revolution in our lifetime." The sender stresses the need for a movement to start immediately that will instill love and self-determination in the people. They explain that it is out of their love for the People that they fight as a revolutionary, and that they will win.
A Collection of Republic of New Africa Documents intended to persuade the United Nations to recognize the Republic of New Africa (RNA). The RNA was founded in 1968 as a Black nationalist and Black separatist movement. The documents include maps of the RNA, a memorandum to the United Nations, and a letter to President Gerald Ford.
A collection of The Republic of New Afrika documents: a memo titled “Now We Have a Nation!” explaining the necessity of a new nation for Black people in the United States; The New Afrikan Creed, a 15 point list of beliefs of the Republic of New Afrika; and a rewriting of the Declaration of Independence for the Republic of New Afrika.
A letter from Ashanti Alston, a Black Liberation Army (BLA) member who was imprisoned for 11 years for a robbery to raise money for the BLA, to Nuh Abdul Qaiyum. He has come up with "points of attention" for the revolutionaries, and he wants Nuh Abdul Qaiyum and the other members to critique them.
Ashanti Alston, a Black Liberation Army (BLA) member who was imprisoned for 11 years for a robbery to raise money for the BLA, writes that he would like to set up love workshops for revolutionaries to make them better leaders after seeing the positive impact that being open and loved has had in his life. The letter is dated “sometime in August.”
A letter to the New Afrikan Women's Organization (NAWO) of New York from the women in the organization representing New Orleans, Louisiana, and Hazlehurst and Jackson in Mississippi. The letter is dated “May 28, 15 ADM” and signed by NAWO member Fulani Sunni-Ali. She calls for a three day retreat for organizational meetings.
A letter to the participants of the New Afrikan Women's Organization (NAWO) conference on August 1-3 from the NAWO. The letter critiques the final paper that was produced by the conference as well as the conference as a whole, saying NAWO’s national posture was incomplete because of the limited number of women who participated in the conference.
Frankye Adams Johnson (Malika) writes this letter to her supporters outlining the criminal charges she is facing in 1980 stemming from a 1974 arrest. She is asking for any support that may be given to her during this time.
A newspaper article from The Star Ledger about evidence in the trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. Prosecution witnesses showed that blood found on the clothes of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) matched the rare AB blood type of the slain state trooper.
A list of questions about the history of the Black Panther Party written by an unknown author. The questions ask about the internal and external factors that led to their development. There are also questions referring to the success of the Party and doing things differently.
A newspaper article from The Star Ledger about the 15 sequestered jurors in the Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper being given a media blackout after the seizure of three buildings in Washington, D.C. by the Hanafi Muslim sect to avoid possible prejudice against Shakur, a professed Muslim.
A letter from the Panther 21 to New York State Supreme Court Justice John M. Murtagh. The Panther 21 was a group of Black Panthers who were on trial for alleged bombing attacks against three police stations in New York City in 1969. The letter is an indictment of the American justice system where the 21 Black Panthers find themselves on trial.
A paper by Dr. Mutulu Shakur that argues the existence of political prisoners reveals the violations of human rights perpetuated by the United States government against Black people. Dr. Shakur wrote this from prison, where he was serving a 60 year sentence for his role in a Black Liberation Army (BLA) led robbery in 1981.
A paper by a student in Frankye Adams-Johnson (Malika)'s English 101 class about the history of the Black Panther Party. The author argues that the members of the Black Panther Party were not born revolutionaries, but were forced into this mind set by the oppressive ways of American society and deemed all of their actions necessary for liberation.
A paper by Dr. Mutulu Shakur arguing that the Black nation in the imperialistic United States is a captive nation and thus must look at the situation and solutions through the lens of international law. Dr. Shakur wrote this from prison, where he was serving a 60 year sentence for his role in a Black Liberation Army (BLA) led robbery in 1981.
A cover photograph from the Court News Section of the newspaper The Home News featuring members of the defense team for Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) who was on trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. Shakur was convicted in 1977 of killing the state trooper during a shootout, escaped prison in 1979, and is still wanted by the FBI.
A poem by Ndugu Al-Jamil titled “Build the Resistance!!!” The cover page features the silhouette of an armed man appearing ready for combat. The poem is a call to arms for revolutionaries that outlines the problems facing the community such as police brutality, taxes, eviction, health care, education, and more.
An original poem by Malika Majid (Frankye Adams-Johnson) titled “A Poem for You.” In the poem, she reflects on the idea of resistance. The bottom of the page says “Lest We Forget: Poetry. From The Veterans For Whom Memories Are Precious Sources of Inspiration.”
A poem written by Denise Oliver to Harold Russell after his death from a shootout with the Harlem police in April 1971. Harold Russell was a Black Liberation Army (BLA) member and one of many members who lost their lives in police killings.
A rough draft of greetings to be given to people attending a Black Liberation Army (BLA) rally, with edits by an unknown person. The greetings outline the history and tenets of the BLA. “Communique #17” and “To All Oppressed Third World People of This Present Day Babylon, Amerikka. Greetings” on the top of page 1 were both crossed out.
An essay encouraging Black members of the military to turn their weapons on their racist officers and come home with as many weapons as possible, like machine guns and grenades, for the liberation struggle. The author also suggests that the Black military members destroy machinery such as planes, tanks, helicopters, and ammunition dumps.
A newspaper article from The Black Panther written by party member and wife of Black Panther founder Bobby Seale. The article explains the psychological warfare committed on Black people as a way to divide and conquer the movement. The author states that the Black Panther party will act as a liberation army for the oppressed people.
A letter to Jacqueline Foster, whose husband was recently killed in the line of duty as a police officer. The author writes that the officer, even though he was Black, was fighting on the side of the “racist, capitolistic (sic) establishment” and therefore his death was not a tragedy but “it was indeed a victory for the people.”
