The background artwork on this mug comes from an original painting created by my son, Lamonte. His creativity reflects the truth that legacy is not static. It grows, evolves, and lives through those who come after us. Fred Hampton’s work was rooted in building stronger communities and investing in the future, and this piece honors that idea by bringing history and the next generation together in one design. It is a meaningful object meant to be kept, used, and reflected on over time.
Power to the People Collector Mug honors the life and legacy of Fred Hampton, an African American community organizer and Black Panther Party leader born on August 30, 1948, and raised in the Chicago suburbs. He was the youngest child of Francis and Iberia Hampton and grew up with a brother and a sister. Historical records note that his family knew Emmett Till, and that Iberia Hampton had cared for him as a child. Hampton attended Proviso East High School, graduated with honors, and became active in the NAACP as a teenager, leading the West Suburban Branch Youth Council and organizing around education, recreation, and opportunities for young people in his community.
In the late 1960s, Hampton joined the Black Panther Party and quickly rose in leadership, becoming chairman of the Illinois chapter. He became known for organizing political education classes and community programs designed to meet immediate needs, including efforts connected to the Free Breakfast for Children program. He also helped form Chicago’s original Rainbow Coalition in 1969, bringing together different community groups to work on shared issues such as poverty, housing, and racism. Hampton’s speeches emphasized discipline, service, and collective responsibility, and he is remembered for lines such as “You can murder a liberator, but you can’t murder liberation,” and “You can jail a revolutionary, but you can’t jail the revolution.” On December 4, 1969, Fred Hampton was killed at the age of 21 during a pre-dawn raid on a Black Panther apartment in Chicago, and his death later became the subject of investigations and a civil rights lawsuit that resulted in a settlement in 1982.
The message of this mug connects both stories. Fred Hampton believed in building a future that served the people, and Lamonte’s artwork reflects the same idea that each generation has a role in shaping what comes next. Together, they remind us that legacy is not only remembered, it is continued.
MUG DETAILS
• Ceramic
• 11 oz mug dimensions: 3.79″ (9.6 cm) in height, 3.25″ (8.3 cm) in diameter
• 15 oz mug dimensions: 4.69″ (11.9 cm) in height, 3.35″ (8.5 cm) in diameter
• Lead and BPA-free material
• Colored rim, inside, and handle
• Dishwasher and microwave safe
