Los Angeles, CA–There are certain days as a journalist that stay with you—not just because of who you’re with, but because of what you’re witnessing in real time. Spending the day with Chairman Fred Hampton Jr. during Oscars weekend in Los Angeles was one of those moments.
He was in town to connect with Ryan Coogler, who was in the middle of receiving one of the highest honors in film and entertainment for his film Sinners. But what stood out to me wasn’t the awards circuit—it was the depth of the relationship between the two men, and what it revealed about legacy, trust, and storytelling.
On our way to Leimert Park, Chairman Fred told me that Judas and the Black Messiah almost didn’t happen in the way the world saw it. There were serious concerns from him and his family about how the story of his father, Fred Hampton, and his assassination would be portrayed. And then Ryan Coogler stepped in.
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Chairman Fred explained that Coogler personally flew out to meet with him—face to face—to really listen. Not just to check a box, but to understand the family’s concerns and ensure the narrative honored the truth. That level of intention changed everything. For me, it was news—but it also wasn’t surprising.
If you understand Coogler’s roots in Oakland, where the Black Panther Party was born, you understand that his work is always going to be grounded in respect. There’s a difference between telling a story and extracting from it—and Coogler has consistently chosen the former.
When we pulled up to Earles On Crenshaw, it felt like one of those classic L.A moments where history just casually walks through the door. Right there was Alonzo Williams—a true pioneer, founder of the World Class Wreckin’ Cru, and one of the architects of West Coast Hip-Hop culture. Watching him and Chairman Fred connect, even briefly, felt like two different eras of Black legacy intersecting in real time.
I brought Chairman Fred to Earles intentionally. He doesn’t eat red meat, so it only made sense to put him on to their salmon burger—one of their staples. Simple moment, but meaningful. Food, culture, conversation, it all blended together in a way that tells its own story. Spending time with Chairman Fred is never just casual. Every conversation ties back to the work.
He continues to lead the Black Panther Party Cubs, carrying forward the political education and community programs rooted in his father’s legacy. One of his major ongoing efforts is preserving his family home in Chicago—the same home tied to the life and assassination of Fred Hampton. That work isn’t just about a building; it’s about protecting history from being erased or rewritten.
He’s also been consistent in using media, interviews, and public appearances to correct narratives and keep the truth alive for a new generation. I’ve had the opportunity to sit down with him during previous visits to Los Angeles, and this trip only added more layers to that ongoing conversation.
After we linked with another mutual acquaintance, the day wrapped the same way it started—on the move. We dropped Chairman Fred off at the airport as he headed back home to Chicago. In a weekend centered around Hollywood’s biggest stage, the most important moments weren’t on any red carpet. They were in the car, in conversation and in the quiet decisions that shape how our stories get told.
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