‘Listen Whitey!’ The Sights and Sounds of Black Power 1965-1975

Author Pat Thomas doesn’t do the ‘traditional’ book reading. He plays albums of the Black Power Movement era, (rock, jazz, soul, spoken word), while projecting slides of various people, events, and record covers – talking about how the Black Panther Party intersected with “pop culture” including Bob Dylan, John Lennon, David Cassidy & the Partridge Family TV show.

Pat Thomas spent five years in Oakland, CA researching Listen, Whitey! The Sights and Sounds of Black Power 1965-1975. Befriending members of the Black Panther Party, he discovered rare recordings of speeches, interviews, and music by noted activists Huey Newton, Bobby Seale, Eldridge Cleaver, Elaine Brown, The Lumpen and many others. Through these connections, he also tracked down the forgotten history of Motown Records and its Black Power subsidiary label, Black Forum, along with little known strands of Black Consciousness poetry, inspired religious recordings, and numerous regional and privately pressed Black Power 7-inch soul singles from across the United States.

Presentation: Pat Thomas (author Listen, Whitey! The Sights and Sounds of Black Power 1965-1975)
Respondent: Dhanveer Brar (Goldsmiths, “Masculinity, Blackness and Performance in Mid to Late 20th Century African American Popular Music”)
Chair: Tim Lawrence (co-director, Centre for Cultural Studies Research, author Love Saves the Day: A History of American Dance Music Culture)

This event is presented by Iniva in partnership with the Centre for Cultural Studies Research, based in the School of Arts and Digital Industries, University of East London.

Booking information

Book online here. If you have enquiries, please call 020 7749 1240 or email bookings@rivingtonplace.org.

Concessions: For a concessionary rate (students, over 60s, unemployed) enter the code: Iniva_concession on eventbrite. Please print out your ticket and present proof of concession when you arrive at Rivington Place.