Watch the newly restored Nationtime: Gary at any time during the festival and join us for this vibrant oral history

It was more than a moment. It was a movement that reverberates in the streets more than 40 years after it began. This oral history and discussion pulls back the curtain on movement strategy and the building blocks that created the historic 1972 Black National Political Convention. Movements that last don’t happen overnight, and history can sometimes paint a one-dimensional picture of the labor, conflict and camaraderie that built the convention in Gary.

PANELISTS

Sababa Akili- poet, writer, political activist. A long term contributor to the struggle for human rights, freedom, justice, equality, self determination, and self defense.

Azima Lok- Born and raised in Newark New Jersey. At  the age of 12, She joined the Committee for Unified Newark organization which became the Congress of African People, Who’s Founder and Leader was Imamu Amiri Baraka and his wife Amina Baraka this is where ,she received her foundation and development of who she is  today. It was this group that attended the 1972  Gary Indiana National Black Political Convention, which Imamu Amiri Baraka  Co-Organized. She now resided in Charlotte, NC where she practices Reiki, Akashic Reader & facilitates awareness of traditional healing for our community . 

Tyrone DeNeal

Served as a page for the 1972 National Political Convention. Born and raised in Gary Indiana, graduate of Purdue University Calumet. He received his degree in Electrical Engineering Technology. A founder of the Progressivie Student Union later known as the Black Student Union  (BSU). Husband to Coquilla Lipscomb and  the parent of three. Mr DeNeal is a retiree of General Electric 43 years of service,retired as Global Sales Director and P&L Leader. He launched an independent Manufactures’ Representative business called DeNeal Industrial Sales & Services, LLC”.

Host: Ludeen