Women of the Black Panther Party
In October 2006, the Black Panther Party will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the organization's inception. Since the Party and its legacy continue to be a mainstay in American social history, a careful study of the Party's members will further explain how greatly these individuals affected Americans' understanding of social movements. This project focuses on the women of the Black Panther Party. Specifically, in the era before the Black Feminist Theory became prevalent, what role did women play in the Black Panther Party, and how did the women compare to one another? Their common strength and adoption of other masculine qualities aided in making these women critical and vital members of the Party. A thorough look at primary sources from the Party for this project will directly compare the experiences of Assata Shakur, Elaine Brown, Regina Jennings, and Kathleen Cleaver, thereby adding new perspective on why these specific women were so important.
School:
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Department:
History
Research Advisor:
Vernon Burton
Department of Research Advisor:
History
Year of Publication:
2006