Special Poetry Recital by the Black Panther Poet Dr Ivan Mendez
To mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Black Panther Party for Self Defence (1966 – 2026), Black History Studies presents a poetry recital and film screening with discussion to celebrate the founding of the Black Panther Party for Self Defence and asks the question ‘how is the Black Panther Party 10-point programme relevant to the progressive activism of today.
Black History Studies presents a special poetry recital by the Black Panther Poet Dr Ivan Mendez from 18:30 – 19.30 on Wednesday 24 June 2026 followed by the screening of the film ‘All Power to the People: The Black Panther Party’ from 19:30.
Dr Ivan Mendez, an Islington resident with roots in Trinidad and Tobago, has held a whole host of roles throughout his life, including lecturing in the Caribbean and working with young offenders in this country. Ivan Mendez is also an inventor who has filed a patent application for his invention, the IMDIFS, a seawater desalination and underground irrigation system.
All Power to the People: The Black Panther Party @ 19:30
Archival footage is combined with interviews, from ex-CIA officer Philip Agee, journalist/filmmaker Gordon Parks, and former FBI Special Agent W. Swearingen to various Panthers and political radicals.
The film covers slavery, civil-rights activists, assassinations in the ’60s, and it explores methods used by police, the FBI, and the CIA to divide and destroy the key figures in the Black Panthers. The film expands beyond the Panther history to more recent times, covering Reagan-Era events, privacy threats from new technologies and the failure of the War Against Drugs.
THIS EVENT IS NOT TO BE MISSED!!
This event will take place on Wednesday 24 June 2026 from 18:30 – 21:00
This event will be held at The Black Cultural Centre Islington, 16–18 Hornsey Road, N7 7BT. Nearest tube station is Holloway Road (Piccadilly Line).
Admission will be FREE. Donations would be appreciated.
PLEASE ARRIVE AT LEAST 15 MINUTES EARLY.
Places for this event are limited so if you are interested in attending please reply as soon as possible to acknowledge your place.
Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis, so don’t delay.
Please note that this event will be filmed and photographed for historical record and uploaded to the World Wide Web. By attending and participating in this event, you are giving your consent to be filmed and waiving any and all claims regarding the use of your image.