To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories. Dominique Thorne portrayed Sheila Hunt inIf Beale Street Could Talk and will soon headline Ironheart asRiri Williams. And that's O'Neal. As he put it during a two-hour interview in Sullivan correctional facility in upstate New York: If you understand the oppression that black people have suffered in this country, no one should have any regrets for having been identified as a revolutionary. In that incident, police claimed to have seen a gunman with a shotgun on the roof of the building, charged in, and beat and arrested the Black Panthers inside. Dominique Thorne (Judy Harmon) Prior to her appearance in the Judas and the Black Messiah, in which she plays Black Panther Party member Judy Harmon, Dominique Thorne only appeared in. Lil Rel Howery portrayed Rod Williams in Get Out and Charliein Bird Box. Many profess their innocence, and most argue they have been selectively subjected to the full wrath of the American state. Piagentini prays he rots in his cell until the end of time. Their belief in the nobility of the struggle against injustice is undiluted and undulled. Ive seen you say that you could have had more women in more prominent roles, considering the role women played within the Black Panthers. What specific inaccuracies were you looking to address? ONeal gave only one interview about his time with the Panthers, to PBS for the second season of Eyes on the Prize, a documentary series about the civil rights movement. The idea that black men armed and prepared can fight for the rights of black people was exciting, intriguing. I watched Eyes on the Prize and the making of Eyes on the Prize because I wanted to get as much information on William O'Neal as I could. King and the Lucas brothers succeeded, with some assistance from director Ryan Coogler, who helped produce the film. But in terms of the Black History Month and McDonald's Kente cloth of it all, that stuff is just funny to me. Judas and the Black Messiah basically follows the Tribunes version, with a flourish: The movie has ONeal using the fake FBI badge to steal the car in the first place, telling the owners the car had been reported stolen and then taking it himself. Big screens are in limited supply these days, and the pandemic has pressured Warner Bros. to reroute this Oscar contender to the conglomerates HBO Max streaming platform, but that may actually serve to broaden the message of a film that sees righteousness in a once radical cause. Who stars in Judas & The Black Messiah, and how do you know them? Just last week there was a stunning development, reported here for the first time: Robert Seth Hayes, like Muntaqim a former member of the Black Panthers and Black Liberation Army was released last Tuesday, aged 69, from the same New York maximum security prison. Action figures! Judy Harmon (Dominique Thorne) exemplifies this leadership when she acts as part of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party's security team. Dominique Fishback Transforms into a Black Panther for "Judas and the What type of work did you do with Lakeith to nail the nuances of O'Neal's character? Both families the Jones family and the Piagentini have lost somebody very precious to them., Were he to be allowed to walk free, he said, his focus would be to re-establish my relationship with my family. But I just wanted people to know, up front, that's not this movie. To cite one example, early Christian martyrs oppressed by the Romans went on to write their own history. Theres one regard in which the police were a little less bloodthirsty than they appear to be in Judas and the Black Messiah: The film shows three officers spraying the living room wall with machine guns, but in reality only one officer, Groth, brought along a machine gun. I was like, "I'll prove you wrong"and I didn't. Jeffrey Haas, who worked on the lawsuits that followed the killings, chronicles the slow process of uncovering the truth in The Assassination of Fred Hampton, and theres probably another whole movie to be made about the state and federal governments perfidy in the aftermath of Hamptons death. King co-wrote Judas and the Black Messiahwith Will Berson, and filmmaker Ryan Coogler co-produced the historical drama. We had the addresses of the Better Boys club, the apartment, and all of the locations in the slugline of the script. But he is also a pawn in a plan he couldnt possibly have anticipated. On 21 May 1971, two New York police officers, Joseph Piagentini, who was white, and Waverly Jones, who was black, were on foot patrol in 159th Street in Harlem. I couldn't help but think about the "Capitol insurrection" as I watched the film. ONeal ultimately got an extra $300 for his role in Hamptons death. It's really not exaggerating to say that Black Panther is Marvel's richest film to date, nor that it has one of the best endings in the franchise. As seen in the film, the police reportedly set the headquarters on fire after the battle. In ONeals telling, sometime in 1967, when he was 17 or 18 years old, he and a friend stole a car, drove it across state lines to Michigan, left their real names and addresses at a pool hall that required a sign-in sheet to play, then promptly crashed the car. According to Jeffrey Haas, as one of the few Panthers with mechanical and carpentry skills, ONeal took charge of the repairs to the offices after the Oct. 4 raid, as seen in the film. After a lengthy gun battle, the Panthers surrender and are taken into custody. He's clearly affected by the events of December 4. The price worked out to just $300. I don't think he ever felt betrayed by Roy Mitchell, but I do think that he recognized that he was disposable to him eventually, and used that to leverage more money and other things from him. Whats more, Hoovers office approved a bonus to Roy Mitchell six days after Hamptons murder, for your outstanding services in a matter of considerable interest to the FBI in the racial field.. The film doesnt get into the details of Hamptons criminal trial, but it does imply that it was a setup to get him off the streets. And this book called Nine Lives of a Black Panther, A Taste of Power, and as many of the autobiographies that I could get my hands on. Criminal justice reformers argue the long sentences of the black radicals have to be seen in the context of Americas uniquely severe approach to punishment, especially for black men. The police see a man with a gun on the roof (William ONeal, trying to escape the shootout), and the police open fire. Hayes had been imprisoned for 45 years for the murder of a New York city transit officer, Sidney Thompson, during an encounter at a Bronx station in 1973. Every so often, with time, the underdog version of events wins out, putting the lie to the propaganda and spin of those in power. They're texting you while you're at home, asking you, "Are you OK?" He was dishonest, but do you think he was a victim? Hampton was a passionate and compelling speaker, whereas Kaluuya (whos a decade older and less overtly demonstrative) explores a more reserved side of the character at first: de-escalating a tense meeting, rehearsing speeches modeled on Reverend Kings and bashfully flirting with future girlfriend Deborah Johnson (Dominique Fishback). Six are among the 19 who remain incarcerated to this day. And when you're also trying to accommodate so much story, and you can't get the script under 200 pages, things start to fall by the wayside. There's a book about William O'Neal that was written by this cop who he framed, which is a crazy story, called The Badge They Are Trying to Bury that I bought for like $800 because there's only one of them. Uh, not interested. I would watch that movie in two seconds if you told me it existed. That was 17 years ago. Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya), the central figure in Judas and the Black Messiah, was only 21 when he was gunned down by police officers in a pre-dawn raid on his apartment. I don't think it works at all. For more on the Blackstone Rangers during the time Judas and the Black Messiah is set, check out the Atlantics two-part investigation into the gang from the spring of 1969. I think that's the most brilliant summation of it all. Over the past two years I have interviewed eight black liberationists who have all experienced prolonged prison time.Through prison visits, letters and emails, the militants told surprisingly similar stories of how they had coped spending almost their entire adult lives in cells and of the long road to an elusive freedom. Obviously, LaKeith Stanfield's character, William O'Neal, is the Judas here, as he betrays Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya), the story's messiah, for essentially a $300 bonus from the FBI. She then portrayed Judy Harmon, a member of the Black Panther in the movie Judas and the Black Messiah in 2021. It kills me every time.. David Fenton/Getty Images. Come on, while the door is still open.". The focus of both womens attention is Antoinette Russells father, Jalil Muntaqim, who is known in maximum security prison by his birth name, Anthony Bottom, and ID number, 77A4283. He was convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life. In 1965, he organized a chapter of the youth branch of the NAACP, leading a campaign for a public pool in Maywood. 'Black Panther' Star Chadwick Boseman Dies of Cancer at 43 The actor also played groundbreaking figures like James Brown, Jackie Robinson and Thurgood Marshall, becoming one of his generation's. Fred Hampton speaks at a rally in Chicago's Grant Park in September 1969. Credit: Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images. We had that scene, but couldn't afford to shoot it. So we want to present the complexity of these individuals, the humanity of Fred Hampton, and really lean into the love that was at the core of all that they were trying to accomplish and stood for. Darrell Britt-Gibson appears as Bobby Rush, the co-founder of the Black Panther's Illinois chapter. Photos by David Fenton/Getty Images and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Photo illustration by Slate. And while I was doing TV, the Black Excellence Industrial Complex happened and I could start to think about making movies again. You need to talk about getting promoted. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Cast and Character Guide: Who - Collider You see when it's coming out and you're like, "Well, I guess that's why it got made.". Martin Sheen portrays J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI director who wants to prevent the rise of the "Black Messiah," and thus targets Fred Hampton as his enemy. Alysia Joy Powell as Mrs. Winters:Jake's mother. So I recognize it for what it is on the political side of things. Boseman was diagnosed with colon cancer four years ago but had not made the . Take Jalil Muntaqim, 66. Everett Collection / Courtesy of Glen Wilson for Warner Bros. Like most of the 19 remaining black radicals behind bars, he sees himself as a political prisoner, arguing that his participation with the Black Panthers was undertaken for no personal self-aggrandizement or profit. Because of that I was targeted by the government and that indicates that my incarceration is of a political nature.. While the Judas label seems fitting, ONeal later made clear that this wasnt a betrayal in his mind. Daniel Groth, who led the raid and lied to the press about what had happened, and James Gloves Davis, so nicknamed because of the leather gloves he would don before beating suspects. My engagement in the struggle was self-sacrifice because of my love of my people and humanity. Later that evening, William ONeal committed suicide. But they, as far as I'm aware of, had women in the security cadre. He called her up on a prison phone, his voice shaking with excitement, and told her: Im coming home!. He also appeared as Reggie Wayne in Sicario, W'Kabi in Black Panther, andJatemme Manning in Widows. The film does depict black women such as Judy Harmon, who lead the security team, yet her portrayal can almost be regarded as token representation. She lost the love of her life and her childrens father. International comparisons, however, are instructive. After ONeal agreed to work for Mitchell, he was asked to join the Black Panther Party and pass information about the Chicago chapters activities back to the FBI. We explore what its ending means for T'Challa, Wakanda, and the future of the MCU. How do you feel about Black art at the moment? Feb. 17, 1942: Huey P. Newton Is Born. Judas and the Black Messiah vs. the True Story of Fred Hampton Most of the sales agents passed and one of the few who didn't told me that, point-blank. And that's why we put that line at the top, just to let you know: "Nah." He needs to stay in prison for the rest of his life. That's the thing: the Black Excellence Industrial Complex has served this movie. Exclusive: Dominique Thorne Talks Judas And The Black Messiah & Disney+ There are certain behaviors that give you a sense of who this person really is and what it means for them to be in this space. Shes forgiven him over the years. One of them was the fact that I recognized the opportunity to put forth some really radical ideas in a very palatable vessel. In 1969, charismatic Black Panthers leader Fred Hampton was killed in a The memos requesting authorization for ONeals bonus became crucial evidence showing a link between the FBI and the raid on Hamptons apartment, since they explicitly said that ONeals information had been used in the raid and demonstrated that the bureau considered it a success. Stanfield delivered breakout performances as Marcus in Short Term 12 andJimmie Lee Jackson in Selma. Though there are only two main women characters in the film, they both support the Panthers in different ways. Ive rode around with him in his car during that time, three or four months after I became a Panther. So I don't feel sorry for him. So too is the mellowing of his character since the heady days of his black liberationist activism as a teenager. Next:Every New Movie & TV Show Releasing On HBO Max In 2021. Does he believe hes unique? William O'Neal made choices and they hurt a lot of people; ultimately, they hurt him. William ONeal (Lakeith Stanfield), the FBI informant who provided the information used to organize Fred Hamptons killing, kept an extremely low profile both before and after Hamptons death, but his character in the film is consistent with the known facts. What do you want people on both sides to take away from this film with regards to that specific conversation? He joins forces with FBI agent Roy Mitchell, and devises a plan to become the personal driver for the aforementioned Hampton. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, thenView saved stories. When Woodfox was sent to Angola in 1971 for robbery, the prison was entirely segregated, with a wing for white prisoners and a separate wing for African American prisoners. The real Roy Mitchell worked on the FBIs investigation into the murders of civil rights activists James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner, just as he claims in the film. The Blackstone Rangers were meeting at a church during this period, but it was the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, which was an active congregation (and still is). The rear bedroom in. The film follows him from the time FBI informant William ONeal began infiltrating the Black Panthers late in 1968 through Hamptons killing about a year later on Dec. 4, 1969. Wanda Ross is really the one who's responsible for the formation of the Breakfast Program and was a main character in those early drafts. As both the films protagonist and an inherently likable actor, Stanfield easily invites our sympathy, even though ONeal represents the lowest-imaginable life-form: a rat sent by pigs to poison a Panther. How do you feel about the timing of the release? A century ago, Winston Churchill made the case that history is written by the victors, but here in the year 2021, even and sometimes especially those crushed beneath the boot of authority have found ways to make their side heard. That testimony sets up a unique perspective on this under-examined fiasco, in which COINTELPRO (a Hoover-sanctioned hit squad acting with unconstitutional impunity) set out to cripple what Hoover deemed dangerous political organizations by any means necessary. Cain added that he didnt want the prisoner fraternizing with others because he would organize the young new inmates. Since 1957, GQ has inspired men to look sharper and live smarter with its unparalleled coverage of style, culture, and beyond. I read Body and Soul: The Black Panther Party and the Fight Against Medical Discrimination. In short, the Black Panther uniform in black leather might now be de rigueur, but there is precious little interest shown in the prison uniforms of the former Panthers behind bars. Lakeith Stanfield co-stars as William O'Neal, an FBI informant who becomes a security captain for the Black Panthers. Or is the US criminal justice system singling them out for especially harsh treatment and never-ending captivity as political prisoners, as the men and women themselves contend? Together with recent films MLK/FBI and The United States vs. Billie Holiday, this project exposes the degree to which American law enforcement targeted high-profile Black figures. She is always seen in male dominated spaces. Daley and State's Attorney Edward Hanrahan. Hed call saying the same thing: Im coming home, she said, speaking at her home in Montgomery, Alabama. From there he was promoted to security details for high-profile leaders visiting Oakland. Take the Baader-Meinhof Gang in then West Germany, the far-left militant group founded in 1970 also known as the Red Army Faction. It's counterpropaganda. Her film debut came in Barry Jenkins' If Beale Street Could Talk and will soon get a bigger profile as she has landed the starring role of Riri Williams in Marvel's Ironheart for Disney+. In the movie, Palmer is shot by police who are harassing the patrons of a local deli, an incident that takes place more or less according to the accounts of Robersons shooting found in the Chicago Daily Defender and the Black Panthers own newspaper. Thats the version of events presented in Judas and the Black Messiah (and in Haas book), but it may not be true. In the film, the police are outside the Black Panther headquarters harassing people in broad daylight in retaliation for the Jimmy Palmer shooting and call for reinforcements after seeing fictional Black Panther Judy Harmon (Dominique Thorne) brandishing a shotgun in a second-story window. And maybe there's a third who are in a room full of white people and just don't notice. State legislators responded in 1967 by banning open carry, and to mark the occasion more than 20 Panthers entered the state capitol during the debate, waving guns. Down in Alabama, Antoinette Russell cannot help but be on tenterhooks before her fathers imminent parole hearing, despite her best efforts to remain detached from the process. I get my hopes up thinking youre going to be released and then youre not. He also portrayed Todd in Breaking Bad,Chuckie O'Brien in The Irishman, Jake inI'm Thinking of Ending Things, andGary Kingsbury in Game Night. 'Judas and the Black Messiah' fact check: Was Fred Hampton drugged? Stanfield spoke with Slates Allegra Frank about preparing for the role with so little primary source material to draw from. One of the things we wanted to show along the lines of "the white man's ice isn't colder" was what it's like for an 18-year-old Black man to go to this FBI G-man's house in 1968, and sit there and drink from his glass and play with his babyin a city as segregated as Chicago, which is still one of the most segregated cities in the world. He also co-starred as Queenan in The Departed and currently headlinesGrace and Frankieas Robert Hanson. Its like the atmosphere is pressing down on me, closing in all around me.. We had challenges, but the movie got made and its coming out. During his Eyes on the Prize interview, ONeal described their relationship like this: I had been to Mitchells home, I have held his child in my hands, in my arms when he was 1 years old. From award-winning writing and photography to binge-ready videos to electric live events, GQ meets millions of modern men where they live, creating the moments that create conversations. I think as a teenager, he actually thought this guy cared about him.