From 1965 through 1975, white America was scared shitless of the growing legions of well-spoken, strident and confident African-American men and women who didn't give a shit about white people's problems. One problem that transcends race, however, is cultural obscurity. Historian and producer Pat Thomas discusses Listen, Whitey! The Sounds of Black Power 1965-1975 (Fantagraphics, $39.99) — a massive, exhaustive collection of cultural history from the Movement culled from five years spent in Oakland researching this neglected segment of American life. Striking up friendships with Black Panthers and other activists, Thomas exhumed recordings of speeches and music Huey P. Newton, Bobby Seale, Elaine Brown and many others. Listen, Whitey! also traces the four years that Motown ran their Black Forum sub-label, which released such amazing slices of the American experience as LPs like Black Fighting Men Recorded Live in Vietnam. You owe it to yourself to know about this aspect of American history — be you white, black, brown, or one of those green people that everyone loves to pander to. Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd.; W. Hlwyd.; Wed., Apr. 4, 7 p.m.; free; book is $39.99. (310) 659-3110, booksoup.com

Wed., April 4, 7 p.m., 2012

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