Sound in the Silence: The Legacy of the Black Panthers

Teaching Artist Carlos Aguirre starts his writing workshop with 11th Grade Students from Envision Academy in Oakland, Ca. on the doorsteps of the Alameda County Courthouse, the location where rallies were held almost 50 years ago to demand the acquittal of Huey P. Newton.

Sound in the Silence: The Legacy of the Black Panthers project was a pilot program of Sounds of Remembrance, an umbrella organization dedicated to unifying, expanding, and sustaining the mission of Sound in the Silence.

This edition was developed and directed by John Warren and Dan Wolf with teaching artists Carlos ‘Infinite’ Aguirre and Marlon ‘UnLearn’ Richardson.

Special thanks to: our funders Robert Sillins Foundation, Susan Sillins, and Buenas Obras Fund.

Project Description

This project - a collaboration between John Warren’s 11th Grade United States History class at Envision Academy of Arts and Technology in Oakland, Ca., Hip Hop music and theater collective Felonious, and Sounds of Remembrance – is the result of three months of historical study and creative activities.

Throughout February and March 2018, the students learned about the Jim Crow South, the Civil Rights Movement, and the rise of Black Nationalism. In April 2018, they took a deep dive into the work of the Black Panthers and Black Lives Matter, including watching the documentary The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution and an assembly with Black Panther Erica Huggins and community organizer Melissa Crosby.

In late-April 2018 artists spent a week working with the entire 11th grade to develop spoken-word pieces about current social issues, inspired by the legacy of the Black Panthers. The pieces were modeled after political speeches and protest chants which mirror the structure of rap verses and hooks. All students performed their pieces in class, and a select few were chosen to perform at The Flight Deck on May 2nd in Oakland, Ca. in front of a sold-out house.

These students placed themselves within the continuum of history and created original poetry meant to inspire us all toward social justice.

Teacher John Warren speaking to his students at the beginning of the project.

The Methodology

Sound in the Silence is the experience of history through art and expression. It is a living, breathing, organically evolving, creative process designed to inspire young people to understand their history and to create art from the thoughts, ideas, and connections that emerge. It is an experiential education project grounded in the methodology of New Forms of Remembrance - a practice that claims that we must use provocative, charged locations to inspire our work in order to give the next generation a chance to understand history and their place in it.

The project is broken down into three distinct phases - Education, Experience, and Expression. We study historical movements and moments to capture our curiosity. We visit historical locations to evoke our emotions, so we may better understand the nuances and complexities of the subject matters we are studying. We work with artists on-location and in the studio to help the participants express themselves through various performance modalities. Then we present our work publicly so that we can articulate our thoughts, share our experiences, develop community, and inspire more people to join us.

By studying, visiting, and creating art together on-site at locations where historical events fundamentally prompt reflection, the projects intention is to establish the importance of creative expression, motivate the pursuit of justice, cultivate empathy among participants, and inspire cross-cultural/generational connection.

Sound in the Silence was founded by MOTTE (Hamburg) and European Network Remembrance and Solidarity (Warsaw) under the direction of Jens Huckeriede and Dan Wolf.

The Legacy of the Black Panthers is our first US Pilot Program.

Teaching Artist Tommy Soulati Shepherd leads a writing workshop on-site at the
Angel Island Immigration Station.

Students arrive at the Alameda Courthouse in Oakland, Ca.

Essential Question: How does the legacy of the Black Panthers connect to your own struggle for justice today?

The students work with Teaching Artist Carlos Aguirre on the inspiration for their verses. They start with the prompt “Look at the courthouse. What do you see? What does this place represent?”

The students are asked to “turn around and look at Lake Merritt. How does this area differ from your home neighborhood?”

“Look across at the big apartment building. Imagine who might live in the top penthouse apartment right now. What do you assume about them and their experiences?”

“What if we told you that Huey P. Newton lived in that penthouse later in his life. How do you think he felt looking down at the courthouse that played a role in his incarceration?”

“Now imagine a protest here in support of YOUR “Three Point Program”. Who is here? What do they look like? What are they wearing? What are they doing? What else do you see? What do you hear?”