Here's my part in the @Suntimes coverage of the Warner Bros. film #JudasAndTheBlackMessiah.

A thread:
Initially, LaKeith Stanfield thought he would play Fred Hampton, the charismatic chairman of the Black Panthers’ Illinois chapter. Instead, he was offered the role of FBI informant William O’Neal.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2021/2/10/22275311/judas-black-messiah-lakeith-stanfield-daniel-kaluuya-fred-hamptons-chicago-black-panthers
Actor Daniel Kaluuya, who plays Hampton in the film, understood why Hampton sought out the positive effects of uniting with like-minded orgs.

#JudasAndTheBlackMessiah

https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2021/2/10/22275311/judas-black-messiah-lakeith-stanfield-daniel-kaluuya-fred-hamptons-chicago-black-panthers
In one scene from the film, the Rainbow Coalition speaks out in the aftermath of the murder of Young Lords member Manuel Ramos — the grandfather of Sun-Times reporter Manny Ramos — by a Chicago police officer.
#JudasAndTheBlackMessiah https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2021/2/10/22275311/judas-black-messiah-lakeith-stanfield-daniel-kaluuya-fred-hamptons-chicago-black-panthers
‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ stars were ‘moved’ while researching Fred Hampton’s speeches

LaKeith Stanfield, who plays the FBI informant who betrayed Hampton, hopes in particular that Chicago’s Black youth will see the film.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2021/2/10/22275311/judas-black-messiah-lakeith-stanfield-daniel-kaluuya-fred-hamptons-chicago-black-panthers
In some educational settings, Black history is seldom mentioned outside the month of February.

And members of the ensemble cast say they learned of Hampton and the Panthers from their communities — not in any of the schools they attended. https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/2/10/22275338/judas-black-messiah-fred-hampton-algee-smith-ashton-sanders-dominque-darrell-britt-gibson-spurgeon
‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ cast members say Fred Hampton was never taught in school

One young actor says his generation’s lessons on the Black Panthers came from "our parents and the ones around us."

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/2/10/22275338/judas-black-messiah-fred-hampton-algee-smith-ashton-sanders-dominque-darrell-britt-gibson-spurgeon
And that education, in many cases, shows Panther members as the aggressors — not the police who killed and harassed Hampton and his cohorts.
#JudasAndTheBlackMessiah

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/2/10/22275338/judas-black-messiah-fred-hampton-algee-smith-ashton-sanders-dominque-darrell-britt-gibson-spurgeon
When news began to spread regarding the film, those who knew the charismatic leader had questions.

Is Chairman Fred Jr. involved?

Hampton Jr. insisted stars see the West Side streets where his father did his organizing.
#JudasAndTheBlackMessiah https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2021/2/10/22275377/fred-hampton-jr-judas-black-messiah-shaka-king-daniel-kaluuya-njeri-panthers-bobby-rush-maywood
By having a say on ‘Judas and the Black Messiah,’ Fred Hampton’s son ‘enriched’ the work

Fred Hampton Jr. insisted stars see the West Side streets where his father did his organizing.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2021/2/10/22275377/fred-hampton-jr-judas-black-messiah-shaka-king-daniel-kaluuya-njeri-panthers-bobby-rush-maywood
Shaka King, the film’s director, met with Hampton Jr. several times, including a visit to Hampton’s childhood home in Maywood.

"We re-did scenes, and he pointed out minor details. We’re doing a movie about these people’s lives; we had to get it right.” https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2021/2/10/22275377/fred-hampton-jr-judas-black-messiah-shaka-king-daniel-kaluuya-njeri-panthers-bobby-rush-maywood
By having a say on ‘Judas and the Black Messiah,’ Fred Hampton’s son ‘enriched’ the work

Fred Hampton Jr. insisted stars see the West Side streets where his father did his organizing.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2021/2/10/22275377/fred-hampton-jr-judas-black-messiah-shaka-king-daniel-kaluuya-njeri-panthers-bobby-rush-maywood
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