Emory Douglas at Columbia College

Columbia College Chicago's Anchor Graphics is sponsoring a talk by Emory Douglas, the former Minister of Information for the Black Panthers. Emory had been jailed in the late 50's as a teen, where he began working in the prison printshop. He then went on to study commerical art in San Francisco. It was during this period that he became disenchanted with the reports of police brutality occuring in black communities around the country.

He joined the Black Panthers and met with the leaders of the organization in 1967. They had just started publishing a newsletter with a typewriter. Emory offered to work on the newspaper and aid in improving the design. He began creating the striking graphic identity for the Black Panthers and was soon elevated to the position of Minister of Information for the group. He spent the following 12 years creating numerous powerful images that were used in both the newspaper and as posters to be put up in the street.





The F.B.I. kept very close tabs on the organization as seen in these notes on Emory's activities. Down to details like the color of ink they were using on each issue.


The New Museum in New York recently had a show of his work. You can see some images of his work here.

Here's a great article on Emory by Colette Gaiter from the AIGA's site, with more images posted as well.

He's also got a book out on Rizzoli titled, Black Panther: The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglas, that covers his work for the group.






Emory Douglas talk at Columbia College Chicago
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
6:30 - 7:30 pm
*Free*
Ferguson Lecture Hall
600 S Michigan Ave at Harrison
Room 101
Chicago, IL