Elaine brown

b. 1942

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Activist

Yet another Black Panther Party legend.

Philadelphia native, Elaine Brown left Temple University to pursue songwriting dreams by moving to Los Angeles.

She had her first formal step into the Black Liberation Movement of the ‘60s by joining and working for the Black Congress. Following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Brown joined the Black Panther Party’s Los Angeles chapter. Her work there includes assisting the pilot of one of the Party’s most visible initiatives - the Free Breakfast for Children Program, and being editor of The Black Panther newspaper.

Brown became the first woman to be a part of the Panther Central Committee, despite the internal misogyny. In 1974 she was appointed chairwoman of the organization.

Outside of the Party, Brown has run for local office, recorded two albums, and founded various non-profits.