It bills itself as the first feature length documentary to explore the Black Panther Party, its significance to the broader American Culture, its cultural and political awakening for black people, and the painful lessons wrought when a movement derails. Filmmaker Stanley Nelson notes,

“The parallels between pivotal moments within the movement and events occurring in our communities today are undeniable. To better understand the Black Panther Party is to be able to better reflect on our own racial climate and collective responsibility to ensure basic rights are fulfilled, not diminished, and that voices of justice and dissent are celebrated, not silenced.” - Director’s Statement

The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution will air on PBS in February, but you can catch a FREE special screening of the film with Stanley Nelson in attendance as part of our Conversations@NPL series this Friday, December 11 at 6:00pm. You may recognize the Emmy-Award winning filmmaker from some of his previous projects like The Murder of Emmett Till, Freedom Riders, and Freedom Summer – the film that framed the discussion for July’s Conversations at NPL event with civil rights activists Bernard Lafayette and C.T. Vivian. Following the screening, Mr. Nelson will answer questions with WSMV’s Demetria Kalodimos.