READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE

Exhibit highlights legacy of Illinois Black Panther Party as DNC comes to Chicago

By  Ellie Gilbert-Bair Aug 12, 2024, 3:14pm MDT

Black Panther Party Chairman Bobby Seale was in court with the Chicago Seven. The Illinois Chapter protested against his treatment and police harassment at Federal Plaza, 219 S. Dearborn. Deputy Minister of Defense Bobby Rush can be seen in the upper left.Chicago History Museum, ICHi-076569; Stephen Deutch, photographer

The Illinois chapter of the Black Panthers was just kicking off when the Democratic National Convention came to Chicago in 1968. As the city gears up for this year’s convention, the chapter’s historical preservation society and Epiphany Center for the Arts have teamed up to honor the Black Panther legacy.

Reset speaks with the curator to learn what visitors can expect to see.

GUEST: Leila Wills, executive director, Historical Preservation Society of the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party

The Black Panther Party for Self Defense was founded on October 15, 1966. The Party had a 10-Point Platform and Program and instituted Survival Programs to help communities steeped in poverty. In this vintage poster, Chairman Bobby Seale and Minister of Defense Huey P. Newton stand in front of Oakland headquarters. Circa 1968.The Black Panthers

###

About Epiphany Center for the Arts

Conceived with the vision to return Epiphany to a place for people to congregate, the shuttered, historic Church of the Epiphany has been preserved and adapted into the Epiphany Center for the Arts, an iconic cultural hub “For the Good of Art, Entertainment and Events.” Thoughtfully designed, the exemplary 42,000-square-foot campus located on the artsy edge of Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood boasts three distinct venues (Epiphany Hall, The Sanctuary and The Chase House) and a stunning array of amenities. The campus also features eight galleries that serve as a platform for a diverse selection of artists from Chicago and beyond. Epiphany’s exhibitions showcase the work of women, the LGBTQIA community, artists of color, and the disability culture. Epiphany’s top priority is to curate programming that is inclusive, while providing a place established artists can collaborate with emerging ones. Epiphany’s programming serves to unite community and artists alike while “Bringing Chicago Together.” Visit www.epiphanychi.com to learn more.