Headlong into the second week of our month-long celebration of groundbreaking female filmmakers, artists, and activists, we add to the WRITE BRAIN Radical Library a truly revolutionary autobiography by the first and only female leader of the Black Panther Party.

Elaine Brown grew up on the often-unforgiving streets of Philadelphia amidst violence, poverty, and political disenfranchisement. Studying classical piano and ballet, Brown attended Temple University, but quickly dropped out to move to Los Angeles, where she worked at a Hollywood night club and began teaching piano in a Watts housing project, which deepened her newfound political convictions. She began writing for radical Black newspapers, and, after the assassination of MLK and imprisonment of Eldridge Cleaver, Brown joined the Black Panther Party.

Brown was instrumental in the establishment of the Panther’s first Free Breakfast for Children program in Oakland, as well as becoming editor of the official Party paper, and even recording two albums of liberation songs. She also began a friendship and ongoing affair with Huey P. Newton, who later appointed Brown to Party Chairman when he fled to Cuba. Brown left the leadership post and party in 1977, disheartened by the Party’s sexism, as well as the imprisonment or assassination of many of her comrades. However, Brown continued her activism, attending law school and starting several foundations focused on prison reform and improving the lives of Black youths.

A committed revolutionary dedicated to the rights of women and children everywhere, WRITE BRAIN TV is proud to present this radical renaissance woman’s righteous autobiography!