"New York 21"
The Black Panther Party - New York Chapter &
 Struggles of Sundiata Acoli
(formerly titled A Power Sun/Wrack 21)

“NEW YORK 21: THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY-NEW YORK CHAPTER AND STRUGGLES OF SUNDIATA ACOLI” is an extraordinary documentary exploring the Black Panther Party (herein BPP) Movement and the climate of the times in New York (herein NY), including the states’ longest and most expensive trial in its history. The conspiracy case, commonly known as the New York 21 (herein NY 21), involved 21 leadership and rank-in-file members of the NY Chapter of the Black Panther Party, being arrested in a series of raids pursuant to a twelve-count indictment in April, 1969, for crimes they did not commit. After 24 months of trumped trial antics, the jury in the NY 21 case returned after ninety minutes of deliberation and acquitted all defendants on all 156 collective counts. After their release, many of the activists were forced underground by the acts of law enforcement agencies and the COINTELPRO designed to destroy the members of the Party.

“NEW YORK 21: THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY-NEW YORK CHAPTER AND STRUGGLES OF SUNDIATA ACOLI” introduces the Liberation Movement. Members of the NY 21 openly share their story of April 2, 1969, along with dramatic re-enactments of profound events that led to arrests, using excerpts from the book, Look For Me In The Whirlwind, written by the members themselves. In addition, former members and historians of the Liberation Movement explore the boundaries of the movement, with direct accounts, historical context and critical perspectives.  This exploration is highlighted using the struggles of Sundiata Acoli. 

Acoli s/n Clark Edward Squire, was reared in a small town in Texas, worked as a Computer Systems Analyst for NASA with astronaut Neil Armstrong, and became known as one of the loyalist activists during the Civil Rights Movement and beyond. With a home front war brewing, a cadre of people was allegiant to educating and liberating the oppressed. Former Lt. of Finance of the BPP NY and current prisoner, Acoli, shares his story and journey through the depths of hell and back in the Liberation Movement in America. The story brings into focus the blatant cover-ups by a government who turned its back on justice; unveiling the untold experience that stunned Americans in the past.…and many people around the world today;
 ...a chilling yet true testament of Acoli's life and struggles as a prisoner.

 The film’s plot is navigated by the conversation between a grandmother, ”Mama Earth”, played by Irma P. Hall (Meet the Browns, Soul Food) and grandson, Cinque, played by Omar Wiseman (Disney Channel), as he is taught about the BPP NY Chapter using a unique game of chess on a recreational park set. While Cinque learns chess; an exploration of Acoli's life is revisted. Mutulu "M1" Olugbala (Dead Prez) portrays Sundiata Acoli. 

     This film is produced and executed with the highest professional and ethical standards. The film’s director, writer and producer, Dawn McGhee says, “This film combines the true history of a dynamic movement, while re-creating the accounts of his story”. Through the narratives, the film shares diverse and independent voices that have never been heard, but written about in books and periodicals; and joins the past and the present within an innovative film structure guided by accuracy and strong conviction that will change the lives of all people from the four corners of this world.

The New York 21:

Jamal Joseph
Shaba Om
Lee Berry
Thomas Berry
Dhoruba bin Wahad
Larry Mack (Whereabouts Unknown)
Kwando Kinshasa (Whereabouts Unknown)
Richard "9" Harris (Whereabouts Unknown)
Joan Bird (Whereabouts Unknown)
Afeni Shakur (Whereabouts Unknown)
Abayama Katara (Whereabouts Unknown)
Baba Odinga (Whereabouts Unknown)
Sekou Odinga (Incarcerated) 
Sundiata Acoli (Incarcerated)
Lumumba Shakur (Deceased)
Lonnie Epps (Deceased)
Bob Collier (Deceased)
Doc Powell (Deceased)
Kuwasi Balagoon (Deceased)
Michael "Cetewayo" Tabor (Deceased)
Alibey Hassan (Deceased)