41st & Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers

On the occassion of this year’s Martin Luther King Day we are honoured to welcome Gregory Everett, son of black panther Jeffrey Everett, for a screening of his documentary 41st & Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers which follows the Southern California Chapter of the Black Panther Party from its glorious Black Power beginnings through to its tragic demise.Despite the Party’s formation of free medical clinics and a successful breakfast program for children, the L.A. chapter was also known as the most violent Black political group in the United States.

The 2010 documentary explores the Black Panther ethos, its conflict with the L.A.P.D. and the US Organization, as well as the events that shaped the complicated and often contradictory legacy of the L.A. chapter. Includes exclusive interviews with Black Panther Party leaders Geronimo Ji Jagga and Elaine Brown. Also featured are former Black Panther members Ericka Huggins, Roland & Ronald Freeman, Wayne Pharr, Jeffrey Everett, Long John Washington, Muhammad Mubarak.

The screening will be followed by Greogory Everett’s comment on the place of the LA Black Panthers within the context of the Civil Rights Movement, and specifically in contrast to the legacy of Martin Luther King. Afterwards, we invite you to join the discussion around the panthers, MLK, their legacy and your views on recent movements.

Gregory Everett is an executive producer, writer and director of films, especially documentaries. Born and raised in Los Angeles, and the son of Black Panther Jeffrey Everett, Gregory Everett directed his first film at the age of nine. He received professional training in drama, film and video at the Ebony Showcase Theatre before attending film school at Los Angeles City College. Involved in the evolution of West Coast hip hop culture, he launched a dance promotions company and has worked as an assistant editor, freelance producer and assistant director on music videos. In 1998, he was a producer of the documentary Eazy Duz It about the late rapper Eazy E for B.E.T. Along with two partners, he has a Los Angeles film and television production company called Ultra Wave Vision, most known for producing the hit reality series for TVOne– KCi & joJo: Come Clean. Gregory and his wife Lorean live in Baldwin Hills and have two sons.