The book “The Black Arts Movement and the Black Panther Party in American Visual Culture” delves into a pivotal period of American art and activism from 1965 through 1972. Author Jo-Ann Morgan explores a diverse array of visual expressions that emerged during the era of Black Power, highlighting key artist groups such as Spiral, OBAC, and AfriCOBRA. These groups challenged Western aesthetic traditions by creating works that celebrated African American leaders, affirmed cultural identity, and embraced an African lineage. The text also examines the 1968 Oakland Museum exhibition “New Perspectives in Black Art” to speculate on potential influences of the Black Panther Party’s activities on local artists’ work. In its final chapters, Morgan focuses on the relationship between selected members of the Black Panther Party and visual culture, analyzing how they were portrayed by mainstream media and how they self-represented to advance Party doctrine and agendas.
