#ericka huggins

[forever70s]

Ericka Huggins at the Black Community Survival Conference (1972); photographed by Bob Fitch

[cartermagazine]

Comrade Sisters: Women of the Black Panther Party by @ericka_huggins and @stephenshames

This powerful photo book highlights the amazing women of the party that often have been overlooked, but by all means was necessary to the sustainability and community of the party.

Foreword by Angela Davis: "This stunning collection of historical photographs, complimented by contemporary conversations with women members of the Black Panther Party, reminds us that women were literally the heart of this new political approach to Black freedom."

“I am a human rights activist, poet, educator, Black Panther Party leader and former political prisoner. For the past 36 years I’ve lectured throughout the United States and internationally. My life experiences have enabled me to speak personally and honestly on issues relating to the physical and emotional well-being of women, children and youth, whole being education, the incarceration of men and women of color, and the role of the spiritual practice in sustaining activism and promoting social change.” - Ericka Huggins

“The Panthers were never a black nationalist organization… They formed alliances with many black writers and activists and their whole legal team was white. They were not out to get white people, as the American government insisted. They were a revolutionary organization who worked with anybody they felt was sincerely trying to change the system to benefit poor people and create a more just society.” - Stephen Shames

Many of us have heard these three words: Black Panther Party, but they few know the story of the backbone of the Party: the women.

It's estimated that six out of ten Panther Party members were women. While these remarkable women of all ages and diverse backgrounds were regularly making headlines agitating, protesting, and organizing, off-stage these same women were building communities and enacting social justice, providing food, housing, education, healthcare, and more.

CARTER Magazine

[acervorevolucionario]

1º de maio de 1970 - Garoto faz saudação com o punho cerrado enquanto ele e um amigo sentam em uma estátua em frente ao Tribunal do Condado de New Haven durante uma manifestação de 15.000 pessoas durante o julgamento de Bobby Seale e Ericka Huggins. Foto por Stephen Shames.

[jewlwpet]

[sheltiechicago]

‘A mural that celebrates Black joy’: Oakland home honors women of the Black Panther party. A two-story mural on the side of Jilchristina Vest’s house is dedicated to a piece of history that isn’t often told

The work was commissioned by Vest and brought to life by Rachel Wolfe-Goldsmith, an Oakland-based muralist, while the former Black Panther Ericka Huggins served as mentor on the project.

Standing 30ft tall, the towering mural is already drawing regular crowds and sparking a dialogue in the neighborhood. “People park their cars, get out and stand on the sidewalk and look up at the Black women on the wall,” says Vest. “They take pictures in front of their images. The mural starts conversations on the sidewalk. Strangers introduce themselves to one another. They ask questions.”

A quote from former Black Panther party member Ericka Huggins is part of the mural. Photograph: Ayodele Nzinga/The Guardian

[loveboatinsanity]

[thesociologicalcinema]

Artwork from The Black Panther newspaper, 1970.

1. [TOP] "Imperialists - All this proves even more clearly that U.S. imperialism is the most barbarous and shameless aggressor of modern times, the main force of aggression and war, the chieftain of world reaction, the bulwark of modern colonialism, the strangler of the national liberation and independence, and the disturber of world peace."

2.  "By any means necessary, unless you got something better." 

3. "For the salvation, liberation, and freedom of our people, we will not hesitate to either kill or die!"  4. "Just wait till that landlord comes around with his hands all stuck out - smiling talkin bout, 'Why Mrs. Mae what a lovely day.' Kill the greedy slumlords!"

5.  "When I spend more time fightin the rates, than taking care of my children you know, it makes me realize that I have a right to kill the greedy slumlords who forces me to live in these inhuman conditions. We want decent housing fit for shelter of human beings."

6. "The pigs think they can intimidate me when I say free Bobby and Ericka, but intimidation breeds resistance. Free Bobby, free Ericka! Death to the fascist pigs!" 

In 1969, a number of Black Panther members were participated in the murder of fellow Panther Alex Rackley, who they came to suspect was a police informant. Among those police arrested and charged for the murder were Bobby Seale and Ericka Huggins, despite their claim to have nothing to do with the murder. Their 1970-1971 trial took place in New Haven, Connecticut.

 Artist: Emory Douglas

[thesociologicalcinema]

A boy giving a raised fist salute as he and a friend sat on a statue in front of the New Haven County Courthouse at a demonstration of 15,000 people during the trial of Bobby Seale and Ericka Huggins. Both were acquitted. May 1, 1970. Photo Credit: Stephen Shames — at New Haven County Courthouse.