50 years after the formation of the Black Panther Party, they are once again the talk of America. And judging by the reactions, their legacy is still strong.
As the new documentary by award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson, The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution, debuts tonight on PBS, the timing couldn’t be better. Beyonce‘s performance during the Super Bowl halftime paid tribute, and the backlash that followed ignited a new conversation about the group.
Here are five icons who were once connected to the party.
Chaka Khan
The legendary singer was in fact down with the Panthers in her early days. Chaka Khan befriended Fred Hampton of the Chicago chapter and decided to join in 1967. It was during this time that a African Shaman gave her the legendary name. In 1969 however, she left the party and decided to pursue a career in music. The rest is history.
Nile Rodgers
Believe it or not, the award-winning producer and Chic member was part of the Harlem chapter of the Panthers. Nile Rodgers said he joined the party in his teenage years and was active in it during the ’60s. He even tweeted about his history with the Panthers after Beyonce’s performance at the Super Bowl:
Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba was not a member of the party, but at one point she was married to political activist Stokely Carmichael. The famous South African singer, who fled her country during apartheid, was blacklisted in the U.S. music industry, having her shows and record deals canceled due to her association with Carmichael. The two moved to Guinea where they lived for the next 15 years. Makeba could not tour in the U.S. during this time but still performed throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. She would eventually separate from Carmichael during the ’70s.
Samuel L. Jackson
Bet you did not see this coming. A young Samuel L. Jackson once received guidance from famed Panthers leaders Stokely Carmichael and H. Rap Brown. Jackson had built a reputation before meeting them, having been with a group that held the Morehouse College board of trustees hostage until they reformed the curriculum. However, before Jackson started working with the party, his mother moved him to L.A. out of fear for his life. Later on when he returned to Morehouse, he decided to pursue acting.
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty
5 People You Didn’t Know Were Down With The Black Panthers was originally published on theurbandaily.com
