[Gallery] ‘Unapologetically Black’: Black August in The Park Celebrates Year 5
The annual Black August in The Park event is back to celebrate year 5!!! It was held on August 10th from 4-10pm in Durham Central Park. Admission is free and hosted a parade at 3 pm to kick off the fun-filled festivities. Friday kicked off the inaugural BOND*ference which is held from 1-5pm. This is a convening centering of the bonds we need with one another and organizations to build movements and shift the culture to get free. This year speakers featured Santana Deberry, the district attorney of Durham and also Facilitated workshops and keynote conversations will feature from organizers, cultural change-makers and scholars of local, regional and national note. We will share our own lived experiences and build an actual strategy to repair Black communities and pursue reparations.
The BOND*ference is designed to encourage relationships that lead to collective work! We bond to build movements and shift the culture to get up and moving and free!
Black August in the Park is space designed specifically for Black people to enjoy, connect and heal.
Black August in the Park features food from Black food vendors Oak City Fish & Chips and JC’s Catering were also featured. Black music from Black DJ’s and Installations from Black lead social justice organizations. Our desire is to use Black joy as a freedom tool in and of itself but also as a way to introduce ALL black folks to groups leading Black liberation movement work.
Black August in the Park is like a homecoming or family reunion. ALL Black people are welcome!
On Saturday, it was an aroma of families, friends, kids, and black unity. I enjoyed seeing the variety and positive presence of the Durham Community. In the middle of Central Park were statues of the meaning of black August. I learned more about the San Quentin six which was the first time hearing of that event.
Black August originated in the California penal system to honor fallen Freedom Fighters, Jonathan Jackson, George Jackson, William Christmas, James McClain, and Khatari Gaulden. Jonathan Jackson was gunned down outside the Marin County California courthouse on August 7, 1970, as he attempted to liberate three imprisoned Black Liberation Fighters: James McClain, William Christmas, and Ruchell Magee. Ruchell Magee is the sole survivor of that armed liberation attempt. He is the former co-defendant of Angela Davis and has been locked down for 38 years, most of it in solitary confinement. George Jackson was assassinated by prison guards during a Black prison rebellion at San Quentin on August 21, 1971. Three prison guards were also killed during that rebellion and prison officials charged six Black and Latino prisoners with the death of those guards. These six brothers became known as the San Quentin Six.
The San Quentin Six were six inmates at San Quentin State Prison in the U.S. state of California (Hugo Pinell, Willie Tate, Johnny Larry Spain, David Johnson, Fleeta Drumgo and Luis Talamantez), who were accused of participating in an August 21, 1971 escape attempt that left six people dead, including George Jackson, a co-founder of the Black Guerrilla Family.
Costing more than $2 million, their 16-month trial was the longest in the state’s history at the time and was dubbed “The Longest Trial” by Time magazine. Of the six defendants, one was convicted of murder, two were convicted of assault on correctional officers, and three were acquitted of all charges.
During the escape, which sparked a riot on the cellblock, Jackson had a .32 caliber pistol allegedly smuggled into the prison by attorney Stephen Bingham. Immediately after the incident, Bingham went on the run and fled the country for 13 years; he returned in 1984 to stand trial and was acquitted of all charges in 1986. Bingham’s defense had argued that guards had smuggled George Jackson the gun, hoping that he would be killed. During the ensuing riot, George Jackson, three corrections officers, and two inmates were killed. “source Wikipedia”
If you missed this year no worries Black August will be back next year to celebrate year 6! This is a fun-filled, educational event for all.
Black August in the Park Highlights [Photos: Gillian Shaw]
