Overview

Until 2021, there was not a single official monument erected for the legendary Black Panther Party. This finally changed when Fredrika Newton, the widow of former Minister of Defense Huey Newton, worked with the city of Oakland to commission a bust of Mr. Newton that now stands on the block where he was killed. Following sculptor Dana King from conceptualization through the unveiling ceremony over a year-long period, The First Monument offers an exclusive look at the process and significance of this groundbreaking memorial for an iconic Black movement.