Aesthetics of Black Power
6:30–7:30pm
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The Black Panther Party helped brand the Black Power movement through the use of posters, prints, and the organization’s iconic newspaper. These efforts extended beyond the use of such ephemera to encompass attire and an overall attitude that emphasized the cause. This cohesive visual identity communicated its bold, militant values to the general public, and was specifically inspiring to a Black audience. Poster House is thrilled to welcome Mary Philips, Associate Professor of Africana Studies at Lehman College and Jonathan Square, Assistant Professor of Black Visual Culture at Parsons School of Design to discuss the importance of demanding change through aesthetic presentation. This discussion will focus on the outward presentation of Black Panther Party members and consider the stakes involved in their militant stance when interacting with the State.
Mary Frances Phillips is a proud native of Detroit, Michigan. She is an Associate Professor of Africana Studies at Lehman College, City University of New York. Her interdisciplinary research agenda focuses on race and gender in post-1945 social movements and the carceral state. Her research areas include the Modern Black Freedom Struggle, Black Feminism, and Black Power Studies. She is currently working on her book manuscript, Sister Love: Ericka Huggins, Spiritual Wellness, and the Black Panther Party, which is under contract with New York University Press. This project is the first and only scholarly monograph on the life experiences of Black Panther veteran Ericka Huggins.
Dr. Jonathan Michael Square is the Assistant Professor of Black Visual Culture at Parsons School of Design. He was previously a lecturer in the Committee on Degree in History and Literature at Harvard University and a fellow in the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The recipient of numerous fellowships and grants, Dr. Square’s work considers histories of enslavement through the lens of fashion, and his research has appeared in numerous scholarly and public-facing venues. Currently, he is working on a book manuscript tentatively titled Negro Cloth: How Slavery Birthed the American Fashion Industry. Beyond Past Is Present, He has curated exhibitions at Harvard University and is currently curating another exhibition at Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library. Follow his scholarly work at @fashioningtheself on Instagram.