All Power to the People! features Black Panther Party posters and newspaper graphics produced in the 1960s and 1970s. The exhibition highlights the artistry of Emory Douglas, and documents the Panthers’ involvement with a broad array of causes, including opposition to the Viet Nam War and solidarity with the United Farm Workers movement. With documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, All Power to the People! also illustrates efforts of the United States government to destroy the Panthers as part of wide-spread efforts to stifle oppositional political movements. The social programs of the Panthers and the powerful images of armed party members had a strong impact on the public consciousness of the time, and their efforts to combat the oppression of racism and poverty still resonate today.

As part of this exhibition, ArtRage will screen this documentary in weekly segments on Wednesday and Thursday nights beginning January 12, 2011 (see film listings). What We Want, What We Believe is not a straight-forward documentary—the additional materials are like Roz Payne’s home movies—but more like a tapestry woven from fragments of cloth. As a whole, these fragments present a rich and provocative history, straight from the mouths of Panthers, their supporters, and even the agents charged with neutralizing them. These materials—over 12 hours—are crucial to our continuing understanding of the Black Panther Party and their legacy.

January 8, 2011 7:00 pm to February 19, 2011 4:00 pm