TO MY UNBORN CHILD Opens Next Month at Philadelphia Fringe
Forgotten by many and underexplored by current social justice movements, Fred Hampton was the exemplar of compassionate protest and humane policy. He found common ground between groups without compromising his values. He spoke out on education, revolution, racism, and more. Hampton founded and headed the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party and was one of the most eloquent and revolutionary speakers in the movement. Hampton mobilized a racially integrated group of five hundred young people who successfully lobbied city officials to create better academic services and recreational facilities for African American children.
Hampton stood against police violence and harassment and called for people to stand up against racists of all types who threaten The People in America. In this new play by Richard Bradford, based on the actual events of Hampton's life and death, we can hear Hampton's provocative and powerful ideas again.In his home, after 99 shots fired through the thin walls of the small house, as he lay beside his pregnant lover, Fred Hampton was killed, but in those moments between the mass shooting and the final executioner shots fired by Chicago police, Hampton composes a letter to his unborn child. Iron Age Theatre invites audiences to enter the mind of this revolutionary young man and capture the essence of his being and his message for the future in the world premiere of a new play written by and starring Richard Bradford.
Hampton's reflections on life, politics and social justice are relevant today, touching on many major issues confronting America in 2017. He speaks to police violence, racial conflict, economic inequity, gangs, education, and social action, all through the lens of his life experiences. "To My Unborn Child: A Love Letter From Fred Hampton" opens September 6th at the Ethical Society of Philadelphia 1906 Rittenhouse Square and runs through September 22th. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased from the Fringe box office. The play runs 75 minutes and is a perfect evening starter for the Fringe. For information visit the www.ironagetheatre.org.
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