Judas and the Black Messiah: When Black History is the Present

Feb 11

Stephanie Crawford, Gabby Gladney

“How thick is the veil of oppression?”

My mother and I had just finished watching Judas and the Black Messiah (2021). Her thought stuck with me, causing me to question how much the Black community has progressed. While material changes may have occurred (Black faces in high places, increased awareness on Black issues), the Black community’s standing in society is not that far removed from its standing in the sixties. We still find ourselves enveloped in the thick blanket of white supremacist, capitalist oppression: unjustified police killings, mass protests and marches organized to testify that black lives matter, etc. Although Judas and the Black Messiah focuses on a turbulent time in history, the film’s events, story, and themes resonate presently in more ways than one.

Judas and the Black Messiah spotlights defamed FBI informant William “Wild Bill” O’Neal and his attempt to infiltrate the Black Panther Party’s Chicago chapter, chaired by Fred Hampton. The Blue Record Blog team was presented with the opportunity to view the film ahead of release and attend a virtual summit with the cast, director, and activists, including Fred Hampton Jr. and Mother Akua. The film explores various topics, including state violence, COINTELPRO, community and coalition building, and the survival programs the Black Panther Party initiated.

The film shines a light on an area of Black History that’s been whitewashed, sanitized, and often forgotten over the decades. But how much of the film is history, and how much is allegory? With films like Aaron Sorkin’s Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020), the intent to parallel past movements with current protests is clear. On the other hand, Judas is more relaxed in its messaging; there’s no intercutting of modern footage à la Spike Lee, and the brutality shown by police is familiar in its tone but dated in its action. However, the inspired decision to center the story around the infamous informant, William O’Neal, elevates the film from dated to timeless and from historical to present. The biblical title clues the audience in, but over a hefty two and a half hours, we’re treated to a harrowing parable that speaks to not only the current state of anti-racist activism but also the nature of human relationships. The central conflict between O’Neal and Fred Hampton is captured in the essence of the film's main theme: self versus community. Hampton identifies this in the movie itself; in one scene, he asks his peers, “is the movement about me? Or is it about the people?” O’Neal is a troubled individual; he serves as a stand-in for the Black experience in America, in a way. He is pulled along by forces outside of his control (namely, white supremacist forces), leaving him with few choices other than self-preservation. In the movie, Fred is synonymous with love: love for his people, love for his community, love for his future family. Purpose is what motivates him. But in a tale as old as America, pure purpose is toppled by ruthless self-interest. The prioritization of self over community is the tragedy of the film, and it’s what continues to be the downfall of movements today.

It’s the apathy towards others’ plight and pain, the act of ignoring and demonizing those most in need to maintain oppressive systems is the thread that ties the past to the current moment. Though we knew the story of Chairman Hampton and his brutal assassination, there is still such deep anxiety leading up to the moment of his death. There is still heartbreak and discomfort seeing evil’s triumph over good and witnessing the tightening of oppression’s coils. The story of Judas and the Black Messiah illustrates the danger of failing to love and care for our communities. Without that love, we fall into traps and uphold this oppressive society.

However, like all timeless stories, the film does not leave us in a pit of despair. It reminds us that hope is still alive and present. We can learn from and continue the legacy of community care and advocacy the Black Panthers advanced. Pay special attention to the “I Am a Revolutionary” speech. Hearing that powerful speech today is still moving and lets us know in the current moment that the fight for liberation is a constant struggle. It does not end with one person because the power comes from the community, from the people. And as Chairman Hampton repeats throughout the film, “Where there’s people, there’s power.

Judas and the Black Messiah is a powerful film that causes us to investigate the state of our society. It calls into question our priorities and our values. It asks whether we are working to eradicate the systems of white supremacy and capitalism or whether we are working to enable it. The film is an excellent introduction to the work and mission of the Black Panther Party. Hopefully, audiences are encouraged to learn more about the Party's commitment to Black self-determination, socialism, and their aim to liberate Black communities and oppressed people worldwide.