Mar 24 2010

41st and Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers

Erika HugginsIn the 1940s, the grandchildren of slaves began migrating from southern states to Los Angeles in search of a refuge from racism, only to be greeted by more racism. With crosses burning in Inglewood and Culver city as late as the 1960s, and a militant police force led by Chief William Parker that drew support from the FBI and recruited officers from the South, Los Angeles was not the bastion of freedom African Americans had hoped it would be. Enter the Black Panthers. 41st and Central, a new documentary written, produced, and directed by Gregory “G. Bone” Everett, himself son of a black panther, traces the history of the Southern California chapter of the Black Panther party from its inception to its demise. The film explores the Party’s face-offs with the LAPD and the Us Organization, a rival group, as well as the UCLA killings of the charismatic Alprentice “Bunchy” Carter and John Huggins, and the 1969 shootout between the LAPD and the Black Panthers on 41st Street and Central. The film features new interviews with former Black Panther Party members including Ericka Huggins, Ronald Freeman, Wayne Pharr, Jeffrey Everett, Long John Washington, and Muhammad Mubarak, alongside former LAPD Chief Bernard Parks, Us member Wesley Kabaila, and UCLA Prof. Scot Brown.These interviews combined with archival footage, makes “41st and Central” a compelling picture of the often-overlooked issue of racism in Los Angeles, and the revolutionary black movement that tried to fight it.

GUESTS: Gregory Everett, Writer, Director and Producer, Gary Walker, Producer

The Pan African Film & Arts Festival Presents
A Limited One Week Engagements Beginning at March 26th
at Culver Plaza Theaters 9919 Washington Blvd. Los Angeles
Special Event Showing on March 27th (4pm Red Carpet / 5 pm Screening)

For more information, visit www.41central.com

One response so far

One Response to “41st and Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers”

  1. Sandra Coxon 23 Apr 2010 at 12:58 am

    I saw this film at the PAFF in February. I believe it was historically correct. I lived through this period in Los Angeles and believe Gregory did an excellent job on documenting the truth. Q. Why wasn’t Deacon Alexander a part of the film? My agency, The Coalition of Mental Health Professionals would like to honor Mr. Everett. I am having difficulty getting his contact information. Please help. Thanks

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