Elaine Brown, who in 1974 became the first female leader of the Black Panther Party, spoke at UCLA Thursday evening about the empowerment of black students.
Brown, an author and social activist, said in her speech that students should pursue eduction and help change the conditions that blacks and other minorities that have historically been discriminated against deal with today.
Afrikan Student Union chair Christina Walter said Brown’s appearance was the first of a series of events this school year commemorating two Black Panther Party members who were shot and killed in Campbell Hall on Jan. 17, 1969.
Alprentice “Bunchy” Carter and John Huggins were slain during conflicts as the university was establishing the Black studies department, the forerunner for the Afro-American studies program.
“To bring someone from that time who was there, someone who was as heavily involved as her, is simply revisiting history,” Walter said.
Walter said part of the purpose of the event, which was hosted by the Afrikan Student Union and the Afrikan Women’s Collective, was to create support for these groups’ efforts to erect a monument and building in honor of the victims and establish a scholarship award in Carter’s name.
Professor of political science Victor Wolfenstein, who teaches a course on Malcolm X and black liberation and includes Brown’s autobiography in his syllabus, said he attended the event because Brown is still an important figure today.
“The most important thing about Elaine Brown is her continued commitment to the African-American and human liberation,” Wolfenstein said.
Brown started her speech by discussing what she believes are the poor socioeconomic conditions of a majority of the black population in America. She said she believes that black men and women are still economically and academically disadvantaged.
Brown then talked about the development of the Civil Rights Movement from the Civil War to the turbulent 1960s.
Brown said the Black Panthers grew out of the political climate of the 1960s to liberate the black people.
“We had to first acknowledge that we are not free. That is what we are still speaking about today,” Brown said.
She later added that her organization’s goal was to get across to people that change was essential for progress. She stressed that students have the power to effect change, given the educational opportunities they have.
“All of us in this room are at a certain level of privilege,” Brown said.
“We need some of you to take your experiences here and help your people,” she added.
Almost all of the seats in Haines 39 were filled, and Brown received three standing ovations: when she was introduced, after she finished her lecture and again at the end of a Q&A.
Verenice Chavoya-Perez, a fourth-year political science and sociology student, said she had never heard of Brown before, but after hearing her speak, she considers Brown an impressive female leader.
“In our classes, we learn about institutions and theories. She represents the action part where she takes in knowledge and does something about it,” Chavoya-Perez said.
Afrikan Student Union member Raymundo Jacquez III, a third-year sociology and Chicana/o studies student, performed his spoken-word piece “Square One” before Brown’s speech and said Brown was a powerful role model.
“She gave us a template to organize. She called out to all of us college students to get up and do something,” Jacquez said.
Brown plans to make another appearance on campus during a march with other former Black Panthers in January to honor Carter and Huggins.
With reports by Audrey Kuo, Bruin staff.