Fred Hampton Jr. DALLAS- The People’s Lunch Counter and the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement invited the Dallas Community to celebrate Black August with a series of political education Seminars on African history, health awareness. The concept of Black August allows the hip-hop culture to organize and work within a historical and political context that they believe will educate, inspire and guide young people as they confront the issues facing their communities, their society and their world.

The concept, Black August, grew out of the need to recognize the glorious and heroic deeds of those African women and men who struggled against the injustices heaped upon the working poor on a daily basis in America.  Black August, was first organized to honor our fallen freedom fighters, Jonathan and George Jackson, Khatari Gaulden, James McClain, William Christmas, and the sole survivor of the August 7, 1970 Courthouse Slave Rebellion, Ruchell Cinque Magee. It is still a time to embrace the principles of unity, self-sacrifice, political education, physical fitness and/or training in martial arts, resistance, and spiritual renewal.

The month of August carries great significance for African people in America.  The arrival of the first Africans for the purpose of enslavement was in August (1619), the Haitian Revolution was in August (1791), the Nat Turner Rebellion was in August (1831), the Underground Railroad began in August (1850), the birth of Marcus Garvey was in August (1887), the March on Washington was in August (1963), the Watts rebellions were in August (1965), and the assassination of George Jackson was in August (1971), for example.

Guest speaker Fred Hampton Jr., will address the crowd on Monday, August 17 at the Pan-African Connection Bookstore and Resource Center located at 612 E.  Jefferson Blvd.  An electrifying speaker, whose father Fred Hampton Sr., Deputy Chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party in 1969 was shot and killed by Chicago Police.  Yet he did not let the death of his father deter him, instead he became an active community organizer making sure that his father’s legacy did not die with the man.

The Black August celebration will end with a RBG Block Party including a host of speakers and cultural entertainment, on Sunday August 30, at Rochester Park, located at 3000 Municipal Street, in Dallas All events are free and open to the public. For more information on schedule activities, contact Seidah Williams at (817)323-7270.