Chairman Fred Hampton was the leader of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party until his life was cut short on December 4, 1969, when more than a dozen law enforcement officers busted in his West Chicago apartment in a pre-dawn raid. Hampton was shot to death in his bed. He was 21 years old.

His life inspired the new film Judas and the Black Messiah, coming out February 12 in theaters and HBO Max. In this official podcast series, produced by 99% Invisible and Proximity Media, in partnership with Warner Bros, we’re looking at the “black messiah” at the center of this film. The REAL story of Chairman Fred Hampton.

What made Hampton so special that he was anointed as a leader at such a young age, and then targeted in a federal assassination?

Join host Elvis Mitchell as we go behind the scenes with the film’s creators, including director Shaka King and producer Ryan Coogler, who wrote and directed the 2018 blockbuster, Black Panther. 

We’ll also talk to co-stars Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield, and Dominique Fishback. And, to real Black Panthers who knew Chairman Fred - including his widow, Akua Njeri. And our number one guide through this whole series will be Chairman Fred Hampton Junior. He was born three weeks after his father’s assassination and has spent his life protecting his father’s legacy.