Hampton Book Talk

Exciting Developments

Tue, 2 Nov 2010 13:03:21 -0400

Book sales are brisk, and The Assassination of Fred Hampton is in its third printing,. My book tour will continue in November and December, and talented and highly respected film director Chris Smith, has purchased the option to the movie rights and is working on a screenplay. I also will be interviewed on the Tavis Smiley-Cornell West show the week of December 4th.
In other news FBI Cointelpro documents indicate the FBI concealed a police radio tape that would have exonerated two Panther leaders in Omaha that have spent 40 years in prison and may be there for the rest of their lives if the Federal Court refuses to give them a hearing on the new evidence.
Finally, an analysis of a tape recording of the Kent Sate shootings commissioned by the Cleveland Plain Dealer indicates a photographer at the scene, said to be working for the FBI or local police, fired 4 shots from his pistol, just before the National Guard opened fire killing 4 students and wounding (See Richardson)
Representative Dennis Kucinich is calling for an investigation to determine if the FBI’s Cointelpro Program set up the shootings.
For anyone in Houston I will be speaking at the Barbara Jordan, Mickey Leland Center at 1:00pm on November 16 and in Boston I will be on a panel at Northeastern Law School at 6pm on November 18th.
I am more than pleased that the book is receiving such a warm response as indicated by this recent comment:

I met you at the NPAP meeting in New Orleans and bought your book. Thank you for taking the time to write it. I remember the 60's very well. I was at University of Tennessee (The real UT) as an undergrad during that time. You have fired me up again. Here in the South we fight the real Boss Hogs. Nothing has changed since the war (the war of Northern Aggression), except we call our plantations Counties with the same elected officials with new names. Sheriff (strawboss)(coach) and on. I hope that I can meet you again and talk a little longer. I have not suffered like you have and I am ashamed that I thought I had. Screw em, NEVER GIVE UP.
— Richard, Carthage, TN

Bruce Dixon Weighs In

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 23:38:21 -0400

Former Chicago Panther Bruce Dixon offers an extended video review of The Assassination of Fred Hampton, as well as his thoughts on Fred and his legacy. Watch it now (click on video above)!

The Tour Continues!

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 23:10:14 -0400

The Assassination of Fred Hampton released in November 2009 is scheduled for a third printing in April. Sales continue to be brisk among undergraduate and law students, African-American Studies Programs, at independent books stores, and at church and community events. And I continue to speak at college and law school campuses, and at local bookstores and churches. I am interested in continuing the tour through the fall so please contact me if you'd like me to speak at your venue! jeff@hamptonbook.com.

The Second printing

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:44:59 -0500

Good news! My book is in its second printing. I resume my book tour the end of January. See Tour Updates. I’m also back in Chicago reading with a panel of David Stovall, Bill Ayers, LaDonna Redmond, and Alice Kim at Barbara’s Bookstore at UIC on Feb. 4th at 6pm.

Rick Ayers wrote a great review of the book in the Huffington Post on January 13th.

The February issue of Ebony contains praise for my book under the "Must Read" section on p. 42.

See also the nine five-star reviews on Amazon.

The launch event for the book at Northwestern University on November 5th was broadcast on C-Span on January 2nd and can be viewed here. It’s an excellent video rendition.

Tour launch available online

Tue, 5 Jan 2010 11:36:34 -0500

This week C-Span broadcast the launch event entitled "Racism, Repression, and Resistance" of The Assassination of Fred Hampton from Northwestern University on November 5th. The video includes a presentation by Jeff followed by a panel discussion of brilliant scholars and writers of African American History, and moderated by Northwestern Professor Bernardine Dohrn. Watch it here:
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/290956-1