PANTHER NEWS
MALIK EDWARDS
ARTIST
The first time I understood art as a thing to do, I was watching my father drawing what he called “a wild cow”. I was totally fascinated by the process. My father friends later taught me how to shade by using my finger, a piece of toilet paper or napkin. After that I never stopped drawing.
In the Marine Corps after Vietnam I became an illustrator in the base art department although at this time I had no formal training.
I left the Marines in 1970. In less than a month I was in the National Committee to Combat Fascism (NCCF) in Washington, D.C. Immediately I was making flyers and posters for the Chapter. The NCCF, later became the D.C. Chapter of the Black Panther Party. Because of my art work I was sent California to work as an artist on our newspaper.
Emory Douglas, the Minister of Culture taught me layout and design. He also help me see art as a revolutionary tool. Through Emory’s guidance we looked at revolutionary art around world. I was able, after a time, to work independently on the newspaper.
After I left the party, I continued to study world art especially African and Asian art.
Today I continued to learn through trial and error. My style and subject matter has evolved. I will always be at heart, a Panther Artist.
West Oakland Library
Bobby Hutton Park
14th & Peralta
7th & Washington
Living Legacy of the Party
These images were captured during the filming of a new documentary which will look at the Living Legacy of the Black Panther Party & will air at the 55th Year Celebration
Bobby Hutton Park
Marcus Books
BPP Women Mural House 1
BPP Women Mural House 2
Interviews & Resources
Footage by Steven Levinson for
It's About Time Archive
Belonging in the USA
Belonging in the USA: The Story of Michael D. McCarty
Password is “Freedom”
On The Front Lines
When two young college students from the Oakland, California, inner city opened their American History books only to find no one who looked like them or represented their reality, the embers of a fire fueled by decades of injustice, poverty, and harassment once again ignited. That year, 1966, a new generation of Americans raised their fists and placed themselves on the front lines of the same battle that has defined this nation since its inception.
We are one people, but we are not the same. We share one past but see it through different eyes. We hold tight to stories of those who sought liberty at any cost even as those narratives get twisted and manipulated.
This is one of those stories.
Jimi Hendrix & The Panthers
The "Voodoo Child (slight return)" is from New Year's Night, Jan 1, 1970 at the Fillmore East in NYC. That is where he calls the song the "Black Panthers National Anthem."
For years only one LP of the Band of Gypsys was available, which was Jimi's all Black rock trio w/Buddy Miles on drums and Billy Cox on bass. In 1999 the family took the tapes of four shows, 2 on 12/31/69 and 2 on 1/1/70 and made a double CD and a DVD documentary. This song is from the final set on Jan 1st.)
The other song is from "Jimi Plays Berkeley" on Saturday, May 30th, 1970 at the Berkeley Community Theater. (now on CD)
He plays "Purple Haze" then for about a minute he talks and gives dedications to People's Park and the Panthers. Then he plays a 10 minute rendition of the same "Voodoo Child (slight return)"
- Ricky Vincent
