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Revolutionary Movements Then and Now: Black Power and Black Lives Matter
  • Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2016 - Thursday, October 20, 2016
  • Time: 11:00 pm
  • Location: William G. McGowan Theater, Washington, DC

Fifty years ago, Stokely Carmichael first publicly uttered the phrase “Black Power” at a rally during the March Against Fear in Mississippi. Four months later, the Black Panther Party was founded in Oakland, California kicking off the movement to secure empowerment and improve the standing of black people in the United States. Today, Black Lives Matter has become a movement advocating for dignity, justice, and respect in the wake of social and judicial tragedies occurring in America.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Black Power movement, Say it Loud!, the National Archives’ African American Employee Affinity Group presents a panel discussion of distinguished guests from revolutionary movements of the past and present, moderated by journalist & author A’Lelia Bundles. Panelists include Congressman Bobby Rush (D-IL), co-founder of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party; Ericka Brown-Abram, author of Black Panther Princess and the daughter of former chair of the Black Panther Party, Elaine Brown; Alicia Garza, co-founder, Black Lives Matter; Jakobi Williams, associate professor of history at Indiana University-Bloomington and author of From the Bullet to the Ballot; and Princess Black, activist and historian. An open reception follows where audience members and panelists may continue the discussion amongst historically significant records relating to social movements in America.

Presented by the National Archives in partnership with Say It Loud!, the National Archives African American Employee Affinity Group.

All public programs at the National Archives are free and streamed live online via the National Archives’ YouTube channel. Reservations are recommended; seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The doors to the building will open 45 minutes prior to the start of the program. Use the Special Events entrance on the corner of Constitution Avenue and 7th Street, NW. Click here for more information on getting to the National Archives and parking.Live captioning will be available online and in the William G. McGowan Theater. If you require an alternative or additional accommodation for an event (such as a downloadable transcript or a sign language interpreter), please send an email to public.program@nara.gov or call 202-357-5000 in advance.