Exhibitions - Original Poster art from the Black Liberation Movement of the 60's and 70's

On loan from the private collection of Mr. Joseph Goncalves
June 27 - September 9, 2007

The struggle for people of color to be free from political oppression so that their vote, money and voice can be equal to everyone else's has been an ongoing fight throughout the world.

In the United States the war against oppression, imperialism, unfair human conditions and the demand for human dignity has been fought by Native Americans, African American and now Latino populations. Whether focusing on Civil Rights of the 60's or the immigration/border debate of today, detainee from Haiti or children of Sierra Leone, similarities of purpose, process and political proliferation exist. The posters exhibited reflect the political climate within the United States during the 60' and 70's and show parallel experiences of social protest throughout the world.

A major movement in the United States, as seen in the poster exhibit, grew out of the Black Panther Party founded in Oakland, California, by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale in October 1966. The Black Panther Party was an African American organization founded to promote civil rights and self-defense. The group believed in the principles of it's Ten-Point Program, a document that called for "Land, Bread, Housing, Education, Clothing, Justice And Peace," as well as exemption from military service that would utilize African Americans to "fight and kill other people of color in the world who, like Black people, are being victimized by the racist government of America."

Intermingled in the exhibit are evidences of the global struggle that also included Cuba, Africa, and Arab nations. The history of how African nation's collectively sought solidarity of purpose began on April 15, 1958, in the city of Accra, Ghana when African leaders and political activists gathered at the first Conference of Independent African States.

It was attended by representatives of the governments of Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, The United Arab Republic (which was the federation of Egypt and Syria) and representatives of the National Liberation Front of Algeria and the Union of Cameroonian Peoples. The conference represented the collective determination to abolish colonialism and imperialism. It also called for the founding of African Freedom Day and mapped out the strategy for the further intensification and coordination of the next stage of the African Revolution, for the liberation of the rest of Africa, and eventual and complete unification.

On May 25, 1963, leaders of thirty-two independent African States met in the city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to form the Organization of African Unity (OAU). By then more than two thirds of the continent had achieved independence from colonial rule and apartheid practices. At this historic meeting the date of Africa Freedom Day was changed from April 15th to May 25th and Africa Freedom Day was declared African Liberation Day (ALD). African Liberation Day has been held on May 25th in every corner of the world since. African Liberation Day has contributed to the struggle to raise the level of political awareness and organization in African communities worldwide.