Black Power 50
In 'Black Power!,' Art's Political Punch and Populist Reach
"If you're searching for cultural models, even flawed ones, that effectively brought a message of social change into the street, the schools, the workplace, people's lives, you'll have to look further afield. One place to start is the exhibition "Black Power!" at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, a branch of the New York Public Library in Harlem...
Debates continue about the origins — the when and the who — of the Black Power movement. There's a widely held view that it was a brash, fierce urban impulse replacing the gentler, rural-based civil rights movement. But the exhibition — organized by Dr. Sylviane A. Diouf, director of the Lapidus Center for the Historical Analysis of Trans-Atlantic Slavery at the Schomburg — argues that, at least initially, the two coexisted and had much in common.
Holland Cotter, The New York Times
Black Power 50 - Review of the exhibition catalog - The New York Times
“Black Power 50” is, in some ways, a collection of the greatest hits. The book grants significant real estate to the major players, events and issues. ... At its core, “Black Power 50” serves as an excellent textbook, one that not only covers all the bases but also dives into aspects of the movement that have received scarce attention, most notably (and, for me, surprisingly) the international influence of Black Power, from a photo of members of the Australian Black Panther Party to a reminiscence from an Israeli Black Panther.
Kirkus Review
An illuminating text accompanies visuals from an exhibit commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Black Power movement.
This heavily illustrated book serves as a catalog of sorts for a similarly titled exhibition curated by the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and it reflects a legacy that encompasses arts and culture (from poetry to visual arts to free jazz), educational initiatives, prison reform, and even fashion.
The text and visuals combine for an educational, eye-opening experience.