When The Revolution Comes

Jamal Spencer

The aspects of the African American experience that my exhibit focuses on are the revolution and revolutionary figures. Revolution can be a broad term, but this exhibit defines the revolution as pivotal moments; how revolutionary figures resist oppression to bring about change. The revolution has always been a prime part of the African American experience, and the different kinds of people who lead them. These artifacts show how the government and police brutality was a tool for stopping what these revolutionaries were trying to accomplish. Most of their run-ins with the law and the prime objective were to silence these brave men and women who were trying to spark a revolution. My exhibit pays tribute to those brave revolutionary figures who in the face of adversity wanted to make change, and it also displays how life for some revolutionaries was not easy. In the face of protest, attempts on their life, and police brutality, they still persevered. Most of them died fighting for the cause and some of them are just everyday people that are fighting because it’s the right thing to do. The lesson for my piece is simply asking the question, how far will you go to make change? In many ways, change does not come easy. You must find a way or make one. In most circumstances revolutionaries doing the little things furthered the cause, such as feeding the homeless, giving clothes to the needy, or just passing down wisdom to the youth. All these things were ways the revolution progressed. This exhibit will teach you about prominent figures that strived to make change and grant peace for their people. This exhibit displays my reflection of the African American experience. The African American experience has always been rooted in movements, whether that’s the civil rights movement or the hip-hop evolution movement. Everything we do makes waves, and it leaves an influence after crucial people who lead these movements are gone.

“City of Atlanta Sit-in”, December 12, 1960

Arrest Receipt Atlanta. Box 1. Atlanta University Center Archives, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA. 1942

This artifact is an arrest receipt for Marry Ann Smith. A twenty-year-old college student who was performing a sit-in. The context for this artifact is that she is doing a protest with her fellow college students, and they were asked to leave and didn’t. The fact of the matter is they arrested her for siting down. This artifact shows us that even when our people try to peacefully protest it goes unanswered. This matches the objectives by showing that this person was met with challenges to her community, and she wanted to do something about it. Even though her name is not mentioned in the history books, she knows she made real change. This sit-in will affect generations to come. The sit-ins are a big part of African American history, and a big part of the revolution.

“Fred Hampton Black Panther Party”, 1969

Chandla, Davis. Fred Hamptons Door-Chicago-1969. File 5, drawer 5. Johnson Publishing Company. Atlanta University Center Archives, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA. 1942-2010

This artifact pays homage to the revolutionary figure Fred Hampton. He was a leader of the Black Panther chapter of Chicago, Illinois. This artifact is paying tribute to Fred Hampton’s assassination. On this date December 4, 1969, the US government stormed into his house and killed him. This art piece is an interpretation of the events that happened. The star symbolizes the government approved raid, and the bullet holes on the door show that there was intent to kill. Then we have Fred Hampton's name in the middle of all of it. This artifact is significant to black leaders, Fred Hampton was a black leader that was for the people. Every time a person in a powerful position has an influence on black people, the government feels they have the need to take them out. This artifact shows the challenges our people go through every day. Fred Hampton’s legacy lives on. However, acts like this from the government shows the people that they are not for us. These acts are factors that jump-start the revolution.

“Coalition for the Defense of the Panthers”, August 16, 1970

Abernathy, Ralph. Coalition for the Defense of the Panthers. Box 222, Folder 57. The Joseph Echols and Evelyn Gibson Lowery Collection. Atlanta University Center Archives, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA. 16 August 1970

The Defense for the Black Panthers was crucial, for them to keep moving forward as a unit and a party. This defense was for Alex Rackley a big figure in the party who was murdered at the hands of Lonnie McLucas. In this memo, we can clearly see that this was the year after the death of Fred Hampton, who was also killed at the hands of an FBI informant. This Artifact is significant because this was a frequent act of the government, sending in FBI informants to infiltrate the party and take out the members from the inside. This is just another example of the government trying to end an organization that is doing nothing but trying to advance black people. People coming to the defense of the Panthers helps further the cause and makes real change in our communities. The effects from this coalition did nothing but show black people that the government likes to put us in our place. Acts by the government create setbacks for the revolution to come.

“Citizens in North, West Phila. Wary after Police Raids on Panther Party”, September 1, 1970

Evans, Orrin. Citizens in North, West Phila. Warry After Police Raids on Panther Party. Box 222, Folder 56. The Joseph Echols and Evelyn Gibson Lowery Collection. Atlanta University Center Archives, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA. 1 September 1970

This artifact shows how the Police raided a Black Panther safe house, where they would give clothes to kids and feed the hungry and teach the youth. The police were under suspicion that there were violent acts and violent people in this safe house, and they decided to raid it. This is a prime example of how they tried to take down the Black Panthers, they know that nothing was going on in these houses, but they did it as a power play. It is shown in this artifact that shots were exchanged leaving three officers wounded. Even though the panthers never bothered anyone. A Vietnam veteran gave a statement explaining that this safe house was the panther’s mutual way of giving back to the community. This act displays the challenges that these revolutionaries were faced with at the height of their revolution, and this shows how they overcame those struggles.

“Voting Rights Act March: I was There”, August 9, 1981

Voting Rights Act March. File 1, Drawer 3. Hoyt William Fuller Collection. Atlanta University Center Archives, Clark Atlanta University Center Archives, Atlanta, GA. 9 August 1981

This artifact is people showing their support and appreciation to being granted the right to vote. This artifact displays crucial figures on this poster, such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The reason for him being on this cover was to influence people to march. Dr. King was a prominent voice in non-violence and peacefully making waves. In 1965 President Lyndon Johnson outlawed discriminatory voting practices adopted by southern states after the Civil War. Before this when black people wanted to vote they were met with literacy tests and all kinds of confirmations that prohibited their right to vote. Voting is important, it’s how your voice is heard to make big decisions about what goes on in your legal system. Protesting and marching was a big solution to how they were able to get discriminatory acts outlawed. These were peaceful methods of furthering the revolution and they promoted togetherness and community. This one act changed the way we vote today, anyone who wants to vote can vote without anything stopping them. It was a big step in the revolution and there are more to come.

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