Skip to content

featuring historical research, writing, and media at st. mary's university

  • World History

    World History

    Menu
    • World History
    • Pre-Classical History (to 600 BCE)
    • Classical History (600 BCE-600 CE)
    • Post-Classical History (600 CE-1492 CE)
    • Early Modern History (1492-1789)
    • Modern History (1789-1914)
    • Global History (1900-present)

    From the Ancient World

    The Battle of Zama: Rome's Vengeance

    Posted by Davis Nickle12/01/2020

    From the Modern World

    The Holy See Takes On The Fight Against Climate Change

    Posted by Victor Rodriguez11/30/2020

    Regional Histories

    Menu
    • African and African American Studies
    • Latin American Studies
  • US History

    Early America

    Menu
    • US-Three Worlds Meet (to 1620)
    • US-Colonization and Settlement (1585-1763)
    • US-Revolution and the New Nation (1754-1820s)
    • US-Expansion and Reform (1801-1861)
    • US-Civil War & Reconstruction (1850-1877)

    Lucy Hobbs Taylor: The Woman Who Pulled Teeth

    Posted by Giselle Garcia02/28/2020

    A Duel That Left No Victor

    Posted by Nathan Alba05/05/2020

    Phineas Gage: An Ordinary Man

    Posted by Stephanie Cerda10/02/2019

    The First Girl Scout, Juliette Gordon Low

    Posted by Margaret Maguire12/06/2019

    Adrian Vidal: A Tejano Caught Between Two Wars

    Posted by Paul Garza10/22/2019

    To Love A Serial Killer

    Posted by Krystal Rodriguez04/17/2019

    The Murder of Kitty Genovese

    Posted by Stephanie Cerda11/14/2019

    El Español y las Oportunidades Comerciales en EE. UU.

    Posted by Danielle Costly11/12/2020

    Live Rattlesnakes and Rock n' Roll: The Story of ZZ Top's "Worldwide Texas Tour"

    Posted by Ricky Moreno10/22/2020

    Walter McMillian: Condemned to Death by Perjury

    Posted by Melanie Fraire05/06/2020

    The Untold Fight of Muhammad Ali: The Strength Behind Each Punch

    Posted by Audrey Uribe12/13/2019

    Diabetes: Don't Sugarcoat It

    Posted by Pablo Medina11/14/2019

    Richard Kuklinski: The Ice That Melted

    Posted by Mitchell Yocham10/04/2019

    Emmett Till: The Opposite Ends of the Race Spectrum in the South

    Posted by Emmanuel Ewuzie12/10/2019

    A Forgotten Finals: Bill Russell, and the 1966 NBA Finals

    Posted by Kaleb Werku11/12/2019

    Rocket Falcon 1: The Art of Failure

    Posted by Bruno Lezama10/03/2019

    Bonnie and Clyde's Darkest Hour

    Posted by Sebastian Portilla11/15/2019

    The First Social Distancing: Examining the 1995 Heat Wave of Chicago From a Social Perspective

    Posted by Tavion Varela11/09/2020

    Murder or “Justifiable Homicide”?: The Death of the Revolutionary Fred Hampton

    Posted by Natalie Thamm04/07/2019

    How the Soviet Union Compelled the United States to Build the World's Fastest Jet: The Lockheed A-12 OXCART

    Posted by Nathaniel Bielawski05/07/2020

    From Being a Christian and Ex-Military to being a Serial Killer: Israel Keyes

    Posted by Adrianna Hernandez10/31/2020

    Jackie Robinson: An Unexpected Hero of Business and Civil Rights

    Posted by Todd Brauckmiller Jr.11/01/2019

    Drugs, Alcohol, and Arrests: The Downside to Robert Downey Jr.'s Acting Career

    Posted by Nelly Perez03/02/2020

    Envisioning the Future: the Start of Apple

    Posted by Adrian Garcia12/10/2019

    Claudette Colvin: The Woman Who Wasn’t Rosa Parks

    Posted by Abilene Solano10/27/2020

    The Artistic Duo: The Inspiring Story of Jean Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol

    Posted by Nelly Perez10/22/2019

    Infamous story of the Beach Boys and Murderous Manic: Charles Manson

    Posted by Mauro Bustamante11/26/2019

    The People vs. Angela Davis: The Black Intellect on Trial

    Posted by Sydney Hardeman11/10/2019

    “I don't understand what you are saying, speak English.”: Tener un acento extranjero afecta la percepción.

    Posted by Lyzette Flores11/08/2020

    Untold Stories of Mexican-American Lynchings

    Posted by Paul Garza12/09/2019

    Contemporary America

    Menu
    • US-Industrial United States (1870-1900)
    • US-Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930)
    • US-Great Depression & WWII (1929-1945)
    • US-Postwar United States (1945-early 1970s)
    • US-Contemporary United States (1968-present)
  • Themes

    SPICE Categories

    Specialty Categories

    Special Themes

    Menu
    • Social History
    • Political History
    • Environmental History
    • Cultural History
    • Economic History
    Menu
    • Art History
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Gender Studies
    • Human Rights
    • Public Health and Medicine
    • International Relations
    • Linguistics
    Menu
    • Military History
    • Music
    • People
    • Psychology
    • Religion
    • Science & Technology
    • Sports
    Menu
    • Catholic Heritage
    • The Year 1968
    • COVID-19
    • Social Justice
    • Spanish Language
  • Showcase

    Showcase Editions

    • Vol 1 – 2016
      • Vol 1 No 1 Aug-Sep 2016
      • Vol 1 No 2 Oct-Nov 2016
    • Vol 2 – 2017
      • Vol 2 No 1 Jan-Feb 2017
      • Vol 2 No 2 Mar-Apr 2017
      • Vol 2 No 3 Aug-Sep 2017
      • Vol 2 No 4 Oct-Nov 2017
    • Vol 3 – 2018
      • Vol 3 No 1 Jan-Feb 2018
      • Vol 3 No 2 Mar-Apr 2018
      • Vol 3 No 3 Aug-Sep 2018
      • Vol 3 No 4 Oct-Nov 2018
    • Vol 4 – 2019
      • Vol 4 No 1 Jan-Feb 2019
      • Vol 4 No 2 Mar-Apr 2019
      • Vol 4 No 3 Aug-Sep 2019
      • Vol 4 No 4 Oct-Nov 2019
    • Vol 5 – 2020
      • Vol 5 No 1 Jan-Feb 2020
      • Vol 5 No 2 Mar-Apr 2020
      • Vol 5 No 3 Aug-Sep 2020
    Menu
    • Vol 1 – 2016
      • Vol 1 No 1 Aug-Sep 2016
      • Vol 1 No 2 Oct-Nov 2016
    • Vol 2 – 2017
      • Vol 2 No 1 Jan-Feb 2017
      • Vol 2 No 2 Mar-Apr 2017
      • Vol 2 No 3 Aug-Sep 2017
      • Vol 2 No 4 Oct-Nov 2017
    • Vol 3 – 2018
      • Vol 3 No 1 Jan-Feb 2018
      • Vol 3 No 2 Mar-Apr 2018
      • Vol 3 No 3 Aug-Sep 2018
      • Vol 3 No 4 Oct-Nov 2018
    • Vol 4 – 2019
      • Vol 4 No 1 Jan-Feb 2019
      • Vol 4 No 2 Mar-Apr 2019
      • Vol 4 No 3 Aug-Sep 2019
      • Vol 4 No 4 Oct-Nov 2019
    • Vol 5 – 2020
      • Vol 5 No 1 Jan-Feb 2020
      • Vol 5 No 2 Mar-Apr 2020
      • Vol 5 No 3 Aug-Sep 2020
  • About

    Course Readings

    Article Indexes

    About Us

    Menu
    • Course Readings – SC 3300 – Nash
    • Course Readings – SMC 1301 – Wieck
    • Course Readings – PO 4334 – Dr Celine
    Menu
    • Course Readings – HS 2321 – Whitener
    • Course Readings – HS 2322 – Whitener
    • Course Readings – SMC 1301 – Whitener
    Menu
    • Our Article/Author Index
    • Award Winning Articles
    Menu
    • Our StMU History Media Project
    • Our Faculty Consultants
    • Our Writers
    • Contact Us
  • African and African American Studies, Descriptive Article, Gender Studies, People, Social History, The Year 1968, United States History, US-Contemporary United States (1968-present)
  • May 10, 2019

Elaine Brown and the Hidden Truths of the Black Panther Party

Black Panther Party Central Committee member Elaine Brown released an album entitled
Black Panther Party Central Committee member Elaine Brown released an album entitled "Seize the Time" in 1969. Brown remains an activist and public speaker in the United States. | Courtesy of Flickr Images
Mia Morales

Mia Morales

Roaring permeated throughout the city of Los Angeles, California, as over ten thousand people joined for a political rally honoring the pending trial of Huey Newton. Elaine Brown sat at the top row inside of the L.A. Sports Arena, surrounded by waves of powder blue and black. Posters exclaiming, “Free Huey!” suffused the room and congested onto the streets.1 Huey Newton was one of the founders of the Black Panther Party and epitomized the urgency to end all forms of oppression. Members from the Party gathered in protest to spread awareness of the social injustices Black Americans faced, all while recruiting new members to help their cause. Finding herself in a state of indecisiveness, Elaine Brown debated whether or not she wanted to “be part of the solution or part of the problem,” as these words echoed the room.

Black Panther Party Ten-Point Program | Courtesy of the Online Archive of California, UCLA Special Collection

By the end of April 1968, Brown made a decision that would soon change her life; she joined the Black Panther Party. Not knowing what she was getting into, Brown was introduced quickly to what the Black Panthers advocated for, their strict rules and protocols. This included the Eight Points of Attention, their Platform and Program, Rules, and the Ten Point Program.2 Black Panthers were instructed to follow these rules or else they risked being banned from the Party. They advocated for the equality and fair treatment towards Black Americans and minorities. A significant percentage of these racial groups fell into the categories of being underemployed, unemployed, and unemployable.3 It was important for racial minorities to speak out of their mistreatment. Black women were and remain one of the most oppressed groups in America and around the world. Unlike most men that joined the Party in hopes of proclaiming their “manhood” and respect from their peers, Brown joined the Party “for the duration.”4 In spite of Brown’s eagerness to be a part of this movement, it was soon very clear what a woman’s role in this organization was.

Women in the Black Panther Party were told that as a member they “might have to have a sexual encounter with ‘the enemy’ at night and slit his throat in the morning.”5 Although it was never stated in print, it was explicit to the women in the Party that their “sexuality–once a source of female empowerment” would be used as a “weapon against them” versus the role the men played who were seen as heroic figures to the public.6 Women were to use their bodies in order to gain information from “the enemy” and to produce the next generation of Black Panthers, no questions asked. Much like the government, men in the organization “feared the political potential of black women.”7 Women in the organization were never given leadership roles and were inducted because they looked “safe” and provided services for the men. This was detrimental to women’s self-esteem and self-worth. Black women faced the same forms of oppression that Black men faced, yet were still seen as subordinate to others of their own race. Women who face sexism tend to have a poorer sense of belonging, which hinders their ability to perform well in male-oriented environments and puts women at a greater risk of having mental health issues. Not only did Elaine Brown and many other women in the Black Panther Party have to worry about dealing with racism or mental health issues due to unequal treatment within the Organization, but also women also had to deal with hyper vigilance and carry that fear of just encountering sexism and sexual harassment from their peers. 

Four women protest as six members of the Black Panther Party are being detained in Connecticut, 1969 | Courtesy of Library of Congress

However, this was not Brown’s first encounter with sexism in an oppressed group. Before Brown joined the Black Panther Party, she attended a meeting for the Karenga’s US Organization where they discussed freedom and the revolution. As food was being served, Brown and another woman she was with got in line and waited to be served. They were then confronted and told that they had to wait until their Brothers were served because “our Brothers are our warriors” and they “must be fed first.”8 Brown was appalled, but she did not feel threatened by these men. She knew her place in the Party and she understood that, like Black men, she too was oppressed for many of the same reasons. Brown was willing to violate “all the ‘sisterly’ rules” then, and now as she faced another form of oppression that the men in this organization did not. What men failed to recognize, was how much sexism can limit the ability and potential that women have in order to be as successful as men were during this time period. Women lacked access to the same opportunities and privileges that men were given, and this was why they were not seen as equal to men. Exposure to sexism and sexual harassment can have a psychological effect on women that allows them to be subordinate to men. This is a result of sexism continuing throughout generations and had become seen as a norm in society. Strong women like Elaine Brown understood that women and men are equal.    

Huey P. Newton and Elaine Brown co-founder and future chairwoman of the Black Panther Party c. 1970s | Courtesy of Flickr Images

At this point in Brown’s association with the Black Panthers, she was very aware that the men within the group were equally as sexist as the white man were. Black women were seen as a threat, even to those already oppressed. Brown was told that “a woman in the Black Power movement was considered, at best, irrelevant.”9 This never stopped Brown; it only pushed her to rise to power and assert herself to the top of this organization. By the year 1975, Brown had succeeded in making a name for herself. She ran for a City Council position and became the first and only chairwoman for the Black Panther Party. She advocated for equal rights for Black minorities, especially Black women. In the United States, Black women are one of the most oppressed racial and social groups; “black women are unlikely to speak” out about their experience with harassment and violence because throughout history they have faced tremendous costs for doing so.10

Before this, Brown had never thought of herself as a feminist, as the word was always associated with a negative connotation and “was an idea reserved for white women.”11 “Feminist” was now a word that carried a great weight for who she was as a human. Sexism is a social construct that has been unconsciously taught; various forms of this inequality are imposed on women before they are even born. Although women in society have come a long way to become more equal to men, women are still considered minorities due to their lack of equal opportunities, power, and wage. However, it is vital for women to know that they are meant to be powerful, not submissive. They have potential and intelligence; women are not objects, and they should not be dismissed or overlooked. Elaine Brown is a significant figure to women of color and deserves recognition for rising to power in a male-dominated organization. Sexism will not end today, or even tomorrow, as long as there are people who continue to push the boundaries that society places on women, we will be one step closer to equality. It is women like Elaine Brown, who are considered double-minorities, that break through all stereotypes and barriers in order to advocate for the greater issues that women across the world have faced throughout generations. 

  1. Elaine Brown, A Taste of Power: A Black Woman’s Story (Brantford, Ont.: W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library, 2009), 126. ↵
  2. Elaine Brown, A Taste of Power: A Black Woman’s Story (Brantford, Ont.: W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library, 2009), 131, 134-135. ↵
  3. Elaine Brown, A Taste of Power: A Black Womans Story (Brantford, Ont.: W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library, 2009), 136. ↵
  4. Elaine Brown, A Taste of Power: A Black Womans Story (Brantford, Ont.: W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library, 2009), 137. ↵
  5. Elaine Brown, A Taste of Power: A Black Womans Story< (Brantford, Ont.: W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library, 2009), 136. ↵
  6. Marquita R. Smith,  “Afro Thunder!: Sexual Politics & Gender Inequity in the Liberation Struggles of the Black Militant Woman,” Michigan Feminist Studies, no. 22 (Fall 2009): 63. ↵
  7. Marquita R. Smith, “Afro Thunder!: Sexual Politics & Gender Inequity in the Liberation Struggles of the Black Militant Woman,” Michigan Feminist Studies, no. 22 (Fall 2009): 67. ↵
  8. Elaine Brown, A Taste of Power: A Black Womans Story (Brantford, Ont.: W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library, 2009), 109. ↵
  9. Elaine Brown, A Taste of Power: A Black Womans Story (Brantford, Ont.: W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library, 2009), 357. ↵
  10. Rachel Zellers and Naava Smolash,“If Black Women Were Free (Cover Story),” Briarpatch 45 (5): 9. ↵
  11. Elaine Brown, A Taste of Power: A Black Womans Story (Brantford, Ont.: W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library, 2009), 367. ↵

Tags from the story

  • Black Panther Party, Elaine Brown

Share this post

Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on pinterest
Share on print
Share on email
Mia Morales

Mia Morales

Author Portfolio Page

This Post Has 17 Comments

  1. Avatar
    Maya Simon 27 Sep 2020 Reply

    The Black Panthers will forever go down in history as the most impowering group that worked to advocate that Black Lives Matter. The role of woman in the Black Panther Party and the sexism is really shocking though, they had good intentions to advocate but they still had a little more discrimination for men the men ran the show for the Black Panthers Party. The woman not only had to suffer racism but also sexism and sexual harassment is just a tragic but awaking moment. This was a great article and it gave me more insight on the issues that were actually going on inside the heart of the Black Panther Party.

  2. Avatar
    Melissa Garza 3 Apr 2020 Reply

    The sexism in the Black Panther party was absolutely mortifying. This was a very informative article and a very important story to be told. I did not even know of the horrors that took place in the party itself. Though it was an organization that was necessary in fixing the social injustices towards African Americans, I am now aware they had many downsides when it came to the social injustices of women in America.

  3. Lesley Martinez
    Lesley Martinez 17 Mar 2020 Reply

    The Black Panther Party’s mission to spread awareness of the social injustices Black Americans faced can divert from the sexism that female members faced. The strict rules and protocols such as the idea of women using their bodies to gain information from “the enemy” and to produce the next generation of Black Panthers are outrageous. For Elaine Brown and other women apart of the party to have faced not only racism but also sexism and sexual harassment is tragic. Nonetheless, Brown’s dedication to rise to power by running for a City Council position and becoming the first chairwoman for the Black Panther Party is inspiring. Great article!

  4. Avatar
    Arsema Abera 17 Jan 2020 Reply

    I have heard about the black panther association several times but never came to my attention that the members were exclusive of the women in the team. It was an interesting article and was informative of how men treated women back in the day. It was also ironic to hear that they were fighting for their right when they were neglecting the same rights to their own members. Elaine Brown is one of a kind and is indeed an inspirational woman in breaking the boundaries of what it means to be a double minority.

  5. Avatar
    Rahni Hingoranee 3 Nov 2019 Reply

    The role of women in the Blank Panther Party and their sexism is truly shocking. The Panthers had good intentions but unfortunately still had the close-mindedness of men during the time. This is a unique perspective to take on the political group. Elaine Brown only decided to join the party for change and had to bear witness to the bad parts of it.

  6. Avatar
    Alexander Avina 31 Oct 2019 Reply

    I wasn’t fully aware of the ideology and mission of the Blank Panther Party. It was interesting to learn more about what led these people to be a part of the moment and the objective of their endeavors. It is always good to look at the thought process behind people’s actions. I definitely learned more about this movement from reading this paper. I really think that the information that you used was very helpful in understanding this movement.

  7. Avatar
    Addie Piatz 20 Oct 2019 Reply

    Before reading this article I feel like I have heard her name before but I did not know who she was until now. I have however, heard of the black panther party and knew there was woman within the organization but I did not know there was sexism with in it especially with all of the external negativity they all were already receiving. This article was very informative and interesting and I enjoyed reading it.

Comments navigation

Previous commentPrevious

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

StMU History Media

A Student Organization of St. Mary's University of San Antonio Texas

Sponsors

  • College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, St. Mary's University
  • Department of History, St. Mary's University
  • Department of Political Science, St. Mary's University
  • Center for Catholic Studies, St. Mary's University

Support Services

  • The Learning Assistance Center, St. Mary's University
  • Louis J. Blume Library Services, St. Mary's University
  • STRIVE Career Center, St. Mary's University
  • Academic Technology Services, St. Mary's University

About

  • About Us
  • Our Authors
  • Our Archive
  • Contacts

© All rights reserved

Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest