For the UK release of Judas and the Black Messiah, We Are Parable commissioned Poetic Unity to produce 5 poems that responded to points from the Black Panther Party Ten Point Programme.
The film follows the true story of assassinated activist Fred Hampton, chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party in late-1960s Chicago, at the hands of William O’Neal, an FBI informant, played by Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield respectively.
The powerful and thought provoking poems were made available through the BFI player and have been performed at live screening events as restrictions ease. Capturing the times in which the film is based, while also talking to the social and racial inequality we still face, Jessica Dyer spoke to three of the poets, Asante King, Jayda David and Lateshia Howell along with Poetic Unity Founder and Chief Executive Ryan J. Matthews-Robinson.
Watch Judas and The Black Messiah and exclusive poems from Poetic Unity on the BFI player.
Find out more about the Poetic Unity and We Are Parable.
