What is the role of revolutionary art in times of distress? Zapantera Negra is the result of an encounter between Emory Douglas and autonomous Indigenous and Zapatista communities. It unites the bold aesthetics, revolutionary dreams, and dignified declarations of two leading movements that redefine emancipatory politics in the twentieth and twenty-first century.

What is the role of revolutionary art in times of distress? When Emory Douglas, former Minister of Culture of the Black Panther Party, accepted an invitation from the art collective EDELO and the Rigo 23 to meet with autonomous Indigenous and Zapatista communities in Chiapas, Mexico, they addressed just this question. Zapantera Negra is the result of their encounter. It unites the bold aesthetics, revolutionary dreams, and dignified declarations of two leading movements that redefine emancipatory politics in the twentieth and twenty-first century.

The artists of the Black Panthers and the Zapatistas were born into a centuries-long struggle against racial capitalism and colonialism, state repression and international war and plunder. Not only did these two movements offer the world an enduring image of freedom and dignified rebellion, they did so with rebellious style, putting culture and aesthetics at the forefront of political life. A powerful elixir of hope and determination, Zapantera Negra provides a galvanizing presentation of interviews, militant artwork, and original documents from these two movements’ struggle for dignity and liberation.

Preface
Marc James Leger and David Tomas

Introduction
EDELO

ENCOUNTERS
1. Zapantera Negra Dialogues by Emory Douglas, Saul Kak and Mia Eve Rollow
2. Journey to Zapantera Negra by Rigo 23
3. One-Way Ticket: An Interview with Caleb Duarte

PLATFORMS
4. The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense Ten-Point Platform and Program
5. Order From the Black Panther National Central Committee: Outline of Responsibilities by Rank and File
6. Position Paper on Revolutionary Art by Emory Douglas
7. Fourth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle
8. Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle
9. The Other Player