Chicago South Side Film Festival Hosts Discussion With Fred Hampton's Family and Friends

by Hannah Ross

On Dec. 4, 1969, the chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, Fred Hampton, was drugged and assassinated in his home by the Chicago Police Department, FBI and Cook County State’s Attorney, leaving behind a fiancée and son who are now board member and chairman respectively of the Black Panther Party Cubs.

On March 26, the Chicago South Side Film Festival streamed the Oscar-nominated film, “Judas and the Black Messiah” preceded by a panel discussion. The discussion was mediated by Alicia Bunton, director of community affairs at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), and featured Akua Njeri, who had been Hampton’s fiancée; their son, Fred Hampton Jr. and attorney Khaliyq Muhammad. IIT’s Office of Community Affairs, Hampton House, Muhammad Law and the Greater Bronzeville Community Action Council and the film festival co-sponsored the panel and screening.

Alicia Bunton: How accurate is the film?

Mother Akua Njeri: We made numerous trips [to meet with the producers], some with our attorney, Khaliyq Muhammad. There were many struggles and debates because most people had a preconceived notion of what the Black Panther Party was. Oftentimes, it fit into their comfort level. We were able to bring the truth and win most of the battles, but not all of them. And we ended up with a magnificent project. [When we met the actors and directors], Chairman asked everyone why they wanted to do this film. Daniel Kaluuya [who plays Chairman Fred Hampton] said, “I wasn’t auditioning when I spoke to them. I was talking to them as a Black man.” And I saw that, I felt that.

Alicia: I cannot begin to understand the trauma that you endured on Dec. 4, 1969. Can you describe the healing process?

Mother Akua: This work. The honor and privilege to be a member of the Black Panther Party Cubs and to be on the advisory board, which continues the legacy wherever it’s being challenged, maligned and twisted. My strength comes from the ability to fight back against the oppressive system. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. I love this work. It’s never done, but it’s such an honor to fight.

Alicia: If you could go back in time and speak to your younger self, what would you say?

Mother Akua: Nothing. I think that you have to experience certain things to be who you are. If I had a magic wand and could fix all the injustices in the world, I would. But the injustices we faced were necessary in fighting against a terroristic oppressive government. We weren’t going to get our freedom by singing 'Kumbaya' or voting in people in our interests. That’s not what we were about. If there’s any way nobody could’ve been murdered, assassinated, run out of the country, that’s the magic wand I would wave, but that’s some abstract non-reality that only exists in the mind of a child.

Alicia: What would you like to leave the audience with.

Mother Akua: Thank you for this opportunity. The one thing I want people to go away with is to look up the Black Panther Party Cubs. Listen to the radio show. Go to the website, get some information and see at what level you can participate. Become an active per- son in the struggle for self-determination in the respective communities on their own terms.

Fred Hampton Jr.: First and foremost, I’m honored to be here. The Black Panther Party Cubs’ purpose is to talk politics, revise laws, push forward campaigns to free political prisoners. The streets are our office. Power to the people. Free them all.

Khaliyq Muhammad: Thank you so much for this opportunity to come on here and speak. It’s always a pleasure to speak about the work that needs to be done. Certainly, there are big battles that we all have to fight. Sometimes we don’t get recognition on a particular project that we worked on, but the people that matter, they know. And it’s all about doing the work regardless of who’s watching.

Dominique Fishback as Deborah Johnson (Akua Njeri) in "Judas and the Black Messiah"