The Murder of Fred Hampton

Howard Alk's 1971 documentary is about Fred Hampton, head of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party. Filming began simply to follow his work; Hampton was killed in his sleep during a police raid in 1969, and the film split in two. The first part shows the speeches, the organising and the breakfast programme set up for children. The second follows the raid; the crew enters the apartment and films the bullet marks on the walls against the official account, which they do not match. In this form the documentary served as evidence. In later litigation the role of the federal bureau in the raid emerged and damages were paid to the families. Who it's for: viewers of American political history and documentary journalism. Who it's not for: viewers for whom footage of the apartment where a man was killed would sit heavily.