women leaders/important women BP movement Flashcards
(10 cards)
Who was Elaine Brown
A singer, writer, and activist; she became the Chairwoman of the Black Panther Party from 1974 to 1977.
Impact: Brown was the only woman to lead the Black Panther Party, helping to expand its community programs, including free breakfast programs and health clinics. She also emphasized education and political strategy, navigating the challenges of sexism within the movement.
Who was Assata Shakur
A member of the Black Liberation Army and former Black Panther Party member.
Impact: Shakur became a symbol of Black resistance after being convicted of murder and later escaping prison to gain asylum in Cuba. Her autobiography is widely read as a powerful reflection on racial and political oppression in the U.S.
Who was Angela Davis
A scholar, Communist Party member, and activist affiliated with the Black Panther Party.
Impact: Davis became an icon of the movement through her advocacy for prison abolition, racial justice, and feminism. Her arrest and trial in 1970–72 made her an international symbol of political resistance and Black radicalism.
Who was Kathleen Cleaver
Communications Secretary and prominent public spokesperson for the Black Panther Party.
Impact: Cleaver was instrumental in organizing rallies, speaking tours, and political education campaigns. She played a crucial role in shaping the public image of the Panthers and advocating for women within the movement.
Who was Ericka Huggins
An educator, poet, and former Black Panther Party leader.
Impact: Huggins co-founded the Panthers’ Oakland Community School and was known for her leadership in community-based education and wellness programs. She pushed for more inclusive and humane policies within the party.
Who was Audre Lorde
A poet, feminist, and civil rights activist.
Impact: While not a Panther, Lorde’s work significantly influenced the ideological framework of the Black Power and Black feminist movements. Her writings critiqued racism, sexism, and homophobia, urging the movement to embrace intersectionality.
Who was Fran Beal (Frances M. Beal)
A Black feminist and co-founder of the SNCC’s Black Women’s Liberation Committee, which evolved into the Third World Women’s Alliance.
Impact: Beal’s essay “Double Jeopardy: To Be Black and Female” was groundbreaking in articulating the intersection of race and gender oppression. She helped shape Black feminist thought within the broader Black Power context.
Who was Safiya Bukhari
A member of the Black Panther Party and later the Black Liberation Army.
Impact: Bukhari was a staunch advocate for political prisoners and prison reform. After her release from prison, she worked tirelessly to support incarcerated activists and co-founded the Jericho Movement.
Who was Yvonne King (Yvonne King Taylor)
A community activist and member of the Republic of New Afrika, a group associated with Black nationalist ideology.
Impact: King worked on grassroots organizing and economic development projects in the South, promoting Black self-determination and empowerment through land ownership and cooperative structures.
Who was Fannie Lou Hamer
A civil rights leader and co-founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP).
Impact: While more associated with civil rights than Black Power directly, Hamer’s radical stance on self-determination, economic justice, and her criticisms of mainstream liberal politics inspired many within the Black Power movement.
