WMU Black Graduate Student Association Anniversary Fundraiser

1816 W Michigan Ave,Kalamazoo MI 49008

25 February, 2023

Description

BGSA was established on February 24th of 2021 for the purpose of serving as an academic, social, spiritual, and professional home for all graduate students identifying within the African Diaspora. We also have a goal to ensure and maintain an organization capable of building a network and community that can sustainably retain, support and empower relationships within Black and African American communities. BGSA is hosting our 2nd year anniversary fundraiser banquet as an effort to ensure we may continue to grow towards fulfilling our organization's purpose. The event will include the induction of the new executive board, a speech by Chairman Fred Hampton Jr. of the Chicago Chapter Black Panther Party, music by Dj Chuck, and Catering by Mekell (a local Black woman owned business). This event will be open to anyone interested in supporting BGSA. Attire: Formal Chairman Fred Hampton Jr. Biography: Fred Hampton Jr. is an American political activist who is the only child of Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton and his fiancee, Deborah Johnson (now known as Akua Njeri). Johnson was over eight months pregnant when Hampton Sr. was killed by the Chicago police in a 1969 raid, which occurred 25 days before he was born. He was given the name Alfred Johnson at birth. His mother had it legally changed to "Fred Hampton Jr." when was ten years old. Now, he serves as the president and chairman of the Prisoners of Conscience Committee and the Black Panther Party Cubs (POCC/BPPC). A spoken word artist and poet, he organizes events highlighting race relations and law enforcement. Working behind and beyond prison walls, Hampton Jr works to organize the Black community, and expose brutal prison conditions. Hampton Jr was associated with his father's biopic, "Judas and the Black Messiah," as a consultant for years. Director Shaka King met him several times before production and even visited his childhood home in Maywood. In fact, their intense conversation about the script and story once lasted between 10 and 12 hours. The film released on February 12, 2021. Chairman Fred Hampton Jr. will deliver a speech at 8 pm and will be available for Q & A and pictures.