First Monument & Billy X — Bridging Perspectives Film Series

A special screening of two short films discussing the legacy of the Black Panther Party, which was founded in Oakland, California on October 15,1966. The films will be followed by a question & answer session with filmmaker Damien McDuffie and David Roach, founder of The Oakland International Film Festival. 

Presented by Northeastern University and Mills Performing Arts, in collaboration with the Oakland International Film Festival.

Until 2021, there were no official monuments to the Black Panther Party in Oakland, the city where they became legendary. This finally changed through an effort led by Fredrika Newton, the widow of Minister of Defense Huey Newton. Following sculptor Dana King from conceptualization through unveiling, The First Monument chronicles the creation of the Huey Newton bust now raised in West Oakland.  

Run Time: 15:54

In an unassuming house in Sacramento, one of the most com- prehensive private collections of Black Panthers material sits on the shelves of original Party member and archivist William “Billy X” Jennings. Featuring images of Tupac Shakur, Maya Angelou, and many other familiar faces, Into The Archives gives you a rare glimpse at a historical exhibition of Bay Area history, most of which has still not been digitized.  

Run Time: 9:33 

Damien McDuffie is a digital archivist and creative technologist from Oakland, CA. He is the Founder of Black Terminus, an augmented reality (AR) platform for Black Art and the Cultural Archive. He is building the world’s first AR studio and Black migration agency for visually immersive tours and virtual archives that bring Black history, migration, and creativity to life. Inspired by his work as a Black Panther Party archivist and a need to share the archives with disparate family members abroad, he built a platform that uses the virtual archives to tell script-driven, oral history-driven, or personali- ty-driven narratives centered on the rich history of Black experience. He is a classi- cally trained writer, multi-platform storyteller, and lover of Oakland, driven by stories that inspire community, connectivity, and creative courage.  

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Bridging Perspectives: Exploring Social Justice with the Oakland International Film Festival is a transformative three-part film screening series that delves into pressing social issues of our time: climate change, racial and gender justice. This series, presented by Northeastern University and Mills Performing Arts, in collaboration with the Oakland International Film Festival, offers a unique lens on pivotal movements and challenges, fostering dialogue and inspiring action. 

"Bridging Perspectives" is more than just a film series—it's an invitation to reflect, engage, and act. Each screening will be followed by a curated conversation with the filmmakers and community leaders.  

Don’t miss this opportunity to broaden your horizons and be part of a community dedicated to social justice and positive change.  

Host or Publisher Mills Performing Arts