From Oakland To Auckland: Emory Douglas and The Polynesian Panthers

Lana Lopesi is a Samoan artist, based out of Auckland, New Zealand. She's currently preparing for her show called 'Seize the Time' based on the Pacific New Zealand history of the 50s to the 80s. Working very closely with the Polynesian Panthers she is attempting to educate Pacific youth about the history as a way of empowerment and breaking the cycles of oppression Pacific people face.

Lana Lopesi's Posters From her upcoming show that will be wheatpasted in Oakland(photo by Louisa Afoa)

In her project guide she quotes a man from the place I call home, "We want education that teaches us the true history and our role in the present day society". Huey P. Newton founder of the Black Panther Party that rose in Oakland neighborhoods to protect people initially from police brutality but also much more.

                                                                                     

Polynesian Panther Sieke Taihia in Auckland

And so with this and reading Lana's guide I have to wonder, that if I asked a Samoan kid in Oakland if s/he knows who the Polynesian Panthers are or yet alone the Black Panthers are? Are these histories who have a parrallel in lands who are divided by a whole ocean connected for that kid and if so, what's so vital to that kid's understanding of who they are knowing this connection in two different realities?

Emory Douglas and Jr in the Bay Area headed out to Auckland to give Lexx's T-shirt design to Poly Panthers

Long ago, when I was a Samoan kid growing up in different hoods of the Bay with the "un-normal normal" things Samoan children go through, theres was little atraction to political jargon, big words and assumingly angry ass people who I never saw in my hood chanting the same thing over and over again. What really focused my a.d.d and educated me more than anything was what Lana writes, "the accessibility and presence of political proproganda and modern day 'artavistas', this can be found in Emory Douglas' posters and visual manifestation of the Black Panther Party, as well as the work from Chicano movement in the U.S" aka visual arts.

Photographs from the 70s' of Polynesian Panthers brothers marching, you can see a familiar image well known to Oakland, the black panther that was created by Emory Douglas. It is with these images, these artists that movements are connected in subtleties of harsh realies through war, police brutality, poverty, etc.

                          One of the many postcards Lana created for her upcoming show "Seize The Time"

It is a mission of mine trying to find creative ways to educate without boring lectures to the younger Pasifika generation in the states who are already induced to instagram, facebook and tv. Like Emory Douglas, Lana Lopesi is an artist that carries a history in every stencil and every poster she creates. Her images, and stencils will be seen in Oakland in the coming months into summer and in collaboration with another Oakland based artist Lexx Valdez, her Polynesian Panther design will be wheatpasted in Auckand, the same area where the Polynesian Panthers organized.

                            

My dad in the Bay Area with a poster that will be wheatpasted in Auckland

Lana says, "Visual art has the ability to mobilise, empower and educate. In our media saturated environment and highly restrictive public areas it is often very hard to do so. So seeing someone like Emory Douglas whose images have literally affected people across the globe is a powerful influence on a young samoan female artist. If I am able to accomplish half of what Emory has in my career, I'll be successful."

Artists Lana Lopesi and Emory Douglas with Polynesian Panther Will 'Ilolahia in Auckland

There is a connection to Oakland and Auckland that is vital between the Pasifika communities on either end of the ocean. It is the visual art of artists like Lana and Emory that will keep the spirit of a history alive for the Black Panthers and The Polynesian Panthers.

Source: Silicon Valley