Tragically, he was assassinated on December 4th, 1969 by a tactical unit of the Chicago Police Department. This biographical film sheds light on the life of Hampton, his involvement with the Black Panthers, and William O’Neil’s infiltration in the party. It brilliantly presents a great revolutionist who spoke for the unheard black community and someone who managed to bring together groups with different ideologies in order to spread peace and unity. The film explores racial equality, radical politics and anti-capitalism. It’s also suggested for ages 16 and above for coarse language and violence.

As tension rises between the Black Panther Party and the FBI, William O’Neil is recruited to infiltrate and gather information on Fred Hampton while posing as a member. The title itself represents the two main characters. William O'Neal is seen as the traitor or ‘Judas’ while Hampton is depicted as the ‘Black Messiah’ or Jesus Christ. It has already been nominated for 5 Academy Awards, one of them for best picture.

Directed and co-written by Shaka King, the film was released during Black History Month this year and is seen as a gift in remembrance of the black activist. King’s writing beautifully comes to life with the help of his actors and actresses. He takes a compelling story and not only turns it into a masterpiece, but is able to implement a message through scenes depicting Hampton speaking to the people.

The chairman was a charismatic, devoted leader who used words to spread his ideology and King executes this perfectly in the screenplay. He also describes O’Neal’s infiltration accurately by taking events that the party faced and placing them in the film which is an opportunity for some to learn more about the role of the BPP and their fight for racial equality in America. A man who brought all kinds of people together, a man who fought against discrimination, and a man who through grand speeches and wise words, wrote history.

William O’Neal is played by Lakeith Stanfield, who shows a remarkable resemblance with the protagonist, and Fred Hampton is played by the talented British actor Daniel Kaluuya, who captures the attention of the audience with his outstanding performance. Watching the film, Kaluuya’s accent is spot on, and he is seen as the reincarnation of the memory of Hampton. In one particular scene where he’s talking to a large group of people, he brings energy and confidence into his character.

Personally, the enjoyment came from the convincing acting. The main actors’ engagement and accuracy are absolutely mesmerizing. Judas and the Black Messiah will not just be known as one of the greatest films of all time, but one of the greatest lessons humankind will ever learn. The fight against racial discrimination is not over.