The murder of George Floyd, at the hands of white police officer Derek Chauvin last Monday, prompted a surge of anger throughout the United States and across the world, as defiant voices spoke up demanding an end to police brutality, institutionalised racism and white supremacy. In the days since, this has spread across social media, calling for tangible action: for people everywhere to get onto the street and protest, donate, and, most importantly, relook at the very systems which allow for these oppressions to take place at both a micro and macro level.
The Black Power movement knew action: through protest, they demanded economic empowerment, their own black institutions and the end to police brutality, using force where necessary. Quotes and videos from some of the founders have circulated on social media, feeling evermore pertinent to our current moment: including one, much-Instagrammed video of Angela Davis citing the importance of revolutionary non-peaceful protest.
On NOWNESS today, you can find out more about the movement with The Black Power Mixtape 1967-75, directed by Göran Olsson, which examines the evolution of the Black Power movement in American society, featuring archival footage of Angela Davis, Stokely Carmichael, Bobby Seale and Abiodun Oyewole. It is shown on NOWNESS as part of ‘NOWNESS Picks’, a selection of films they collate from across the web.
Head to NOWNESS to watch the full film.
