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Facts for understanding ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’,
Vol. 35 No. 8
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February 24, 2021
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austinweeklynews.com
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Also serving Garfield
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5 facts for understanding ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’
Some things you should know to contextualize the Hollywood depiction of Fred Hampton’s life By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor
The life and legacy of slain Black Panther leader Fred Hampton, who was assassinated while sleeping inside of his West Side apartment on Dec. 4, 1969, has garnered renewed interest from the public since the release of the movie “Judas and the Black Messiah.” The film stars Daniel Kaluuya, who plays Hampton, and LaKeith Stanfield, who plays William O’Neal, the FBI informant who betrays Hampton in many ways, not least by sharing the floor plan of Hampton’s apartment with the law enforcement officials who would murder him in an unauthorized raid. Here are five facts that may help you understand the historical and social context of the world in which Hampton lived and illuminate some aspects of the film, which is currently streaming on HBO and HBO Max. The information is based on books, primary government documents and interviews Austin Weekly News has conducted in the past with those who knew Fred. The FBI believed a Black ‘messiah’ threatened domestic security and was determined to take him out before he could do so. In August 1967, the FBI launched a covert program called COINTELPRO designed to “disrupt and ‘neutralize’ organizations which the Bureau characterized as ‘Black Nationalist Hate See JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH on page 4
ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer
A GRAND OPENING: The staff of Butter and Brown Bistro on Feb. 12. The establishment is on Austin Boulevard, near the border of Austin and Oak Park.
The beginnings of Butter and Brown All-day breakfast bistro on Austin Boulevard serves up traditional and unexpected offerings By MELISSA ELSMO Oak Park Eats
After spending 17 months converting a retail space into a restaurant and navigating a pandemic, Lanell and Tiffany Brown
have proudly opened Butter and Brown Bistro, 420 Austin Blvd., in the heart of the Lake and Austin business district. “It is nice to see this corner coming to life,” said Lanell Brown. “We are happy to join Chef Daddy, Church’s Chicken and One Lake Brewing in the area. And we do a lot of business with our neighbor, Blue Ribbon Meats.” The Brown family has resided in Austin for a decade and built Butter and Brown Bistro to be a hands-on, family-run enterprise. Customers should expect to find daughter Brittany behind the counter
taking orders, accommodating special requests, and bringing friendly energy to every customer interaction. The welcoming eatery offers all-day breakfast, but the expansive menu covers lunch and dinner as well. Full of fun touches, the menu, is designed to appeal to the masses and provides niche selections found on few, if any, local menus. Thankfully, Shaqueta Hinke, head chef, knows how to maneuver through all types of dishes and has familiarity with volume See BUTTER AND BROWN on page 2