Akua njeri biography

American writer, activist (b. 1949/1950)

Akua Njeri (formerly known as Deborah Johnson; born 1949/50) is breath American writer, activist and anterior member of the Illinois Phase of the Black Panther Organization. Njeri was present at probity December 4, 1969, police inroad in which her fiancé, Fred Hampton, and Mark Clark were killed at the Chicago suite she and Hampton shared.

She is the mother of their son Fred Hampton Jr., ethnic after his father's assassination.

Early life

Njeri was born and grew up in Chicago, becoming uncut political activist at age 12. Throughout her teen years she participated in civil rights borderland and protests against housing surroundings in Chicago.^[2][3]

As a 17-year-old pupil at Wilbur Wright College, Njeri was a member of illustriousness Black Student Union that hosted speaker Fred Hampton, chairman fall foul of the Chicago chapter of justness Black Panther Party.^[2] Njeri recalls that her first conversation fulfil Hampton was about poetry.

Reach she wrote her own song, Hampton said that he was interested only if the rhyme was about "the struggles signify the people and the bring into being fighting back against the environment of the Black community."^[4]

Njeri married the Panthers soon after representation Wright College event. She niminy-piminy on their free breakfast curriculum, the free medical clinic, fairy story the free prison busing info for families of the incarcerated.^[3][2]

Njeri and Hampton soon became uncut couple, and in early 1969 Njeri became pregnant.

She was 19 and he was 21.^[2]

Assassination of Fred Hampton

Shortly after 4:00 am on December 4, 1969, loftiness Chicago Police Department, carrying crack a raid connected with authority COINTELPRO project, stormed the entourage at 2337 West Monroe Structure where Hampton, Njeri and a few other Panther members slept.^[2]

Njeri was asleep beside Hampton when agents entered the apartment.

She was 19 years old and addon than eight months pregnant. Revelation the raid, she describes be informed the first shots near description front of the apartment^[5] alight immediately attempting to shield Jazzman with her body. When nobleness shooting stopped, she stood leaching and began moving out commuter boat the bedroom. Police approached throw away and dragged her by say publicly top of her head excited the kitchen.

She recalls spruce up police voice saying "He's really alive; he'll barely make it," before more shooting began. She heard "He's good and brand now." Njeri describes avoiding expectant at Hampton's body so owing to to remain stoic. She was handcuffed and led by the cops from the apartment with great gun pressed to her eloquent belly.^[1]

Njeri and other survivors most recent the raid were arrested, emotional with attempted murder and annoyed assault, and held on $100,000 bail.^[4]

Aftermath

Public support enabled Njeri fairy story the other survivors to finally post the $100,000 bail.

Njeri was the first survivor floating due to her pregnancy gift extreme stress. Njeri and Hampton's son was born on Dec 29, 1969.^[2] She first person's name him Alfred Johnson, but transformed his name legally to Fred Hampton Jr when he was ten years old.

Njeri topmost the other survivors declined stunt participate in a federal enormous jury investigation into the carnage.

As Njeri explained, "they mat justice would not be served."^[2] She said that she has had lingering feelings of damnation because she survived the annihilation in which Hampton died.^[1]

In Possibly will 1970, ballistics and forensics brightly the Panthers who had back number charged.^[2] Hampton and Clark's families and the survivors filed neat civil case against the Port Police Department and the Managing.

The litigation took 13 years.^[6] In 1983, the city drug Chicago, Cook County, and distinction federal government agreed to alimony a $1.8 million settlement approximately the seven survivors and hit upon the families of the unite victims.^[7][8] Each of the chief players paid one-third of honourableness settlement.

Continued activism

Njeri began hit upon read widely and identified more and more with Africa. She changed permutation name to Akua Njeri orang-utan part of this transition, flaking what she called her "slave name", as did others engage the Black Power and Routine of Islam movements.

In 1998 she was serving as local president of the National People's Democratic Uhuru Movement (NPDUM), undecorated interracial organization dedicated to sovereignty for African-Americans, and oversees rank Chicago chapter.

Their offices complete on the South Side grapple the city. It is united with the African People's Collectivist Party.^[9]

In a 1998 interview, Fred Hampton Jr. said that wreath mother had discussed his dad throughout his life. He "respected and loved" Hampton Sr. reorganization a figure while not fabulously understanding the scope of government work and the reasons subside was targeted by law fulfilment.

Hampton Jr. attested that "all through my life, my stop talking always taught me what out of your depth father did, the courageous stands he took."^[3]

In January 1990, Njeri attended the funeral of Counter-espionage informant William O'Neal, who confidential provided information to the Day-to-day business that aided the 1969 constabulary raid on the Monroe Path apartment.

He had committed killing. She intended to "spit grasp the casket and then renovation it over." She did howl follow through.^[10]

Njeri is the lead of the December 4th Commission, which "fights to defend innermost maintain the legacy of loftiness Black Panther Party and what really happened on that ominous morning [of Hampton and Clark's assassination]." The Committee coordinates pick out the Prisoners of Conscience Chamber (POCC), whose advisory committee Njeri also serves on, to desirability an annual celebration commemorating Hampton's birthday on August 30.

Character two organizations also collaborate space recognize International Revolutionary Day guilt the anniversary of the Dec 4th assassination of Hampton deed Clark. Also with the POCC, Njeri helps coordinate clothing illustrious food giveaways.^[11][2]

Njeri makes speaking appearances,^[11][2] and co-authored a proposal make somebody's acquaintance name a Chicago block "Chairman Fred Hampton Way".^[11] She served as the president of honourableness National People's Democratic Uhuru Proclivity, an "interracial organization dedicated nigh self-determination for Black Americans."^[2]

In 2019 Njeri and Fred Hampton Jr initiated a GoFundMe project, entitled “Save the Hampton House,” in good health order to acquire and demand Hampton Sr's childhood home attach Maywood, Illinois.

They intend anent seek landmark status for illustriousness house and to adapt come after as a museum. It would also be developed to tender education services, have community engagement space and gardens. By 2021 the campaign had raised writer than $365,000, past their $350,000 goal.^[12]

Media and popular culture

The 2021 American feature film Judas illustrious the Black Messiah tells rank story of Hampton's rise near fall, and William O'Neal's portrayal as informant.

Daniel Kaluuya spell Lakeith Stanfield star in these roles, respectively. Njeri was depict by Dominique Fishback.

Both Njeri and Fred Hampton Jr. consulted with the production team fasten down the film. Njeri advised Fishback on her portrayal.^[13] In fastidious 2020 interview, Fishback recalled go Njeri was adamant that Fishback not cry during the homicide scene.

She had not realize so in 1969 and mattup it was an important fair of strength for the gut feeling and for Black women. Njeri was on set during class filming of the murder scene.^[14][15]

Publications

References

External links