31 Facts About Elaine Brown

Elaine Brown was born on March 2,1943 and is an American prison activist, writer, singer, and former Black Panther Party chairwoman who is based in Oakland, California.

Elaine Brown grew up in the inner city of North Philadelphia with her mother Dorothy Clark and an absent father.

Elaine Brown was enrolled in private schooling, took music lessons, and had nice clothing.

Elaine Brown withdrew from Temple because of her desire to work in the music industry.

Elaine Brown moved to Los Angeles, California, to become a professional songwriter.

Elaine Brown later went on to briefly attend Mills College and Southwestern University School of Law.

Elaine Brown learnt about political radicalisation first hand while in a relationship with Kennedy.

In 1968, Elaine Brown joined the Black Panther Party as a rank-and-file member, studying revolutionary literature, and selling Black Panther Party newspapers.

Elaine Brown soon helped the party set up its first Free Breakfast for Children program in Los Angeles, as well as the Party's initial Free Busing to Prisons Program and Free Legal Aid Program.

In 1968, Elaine Brown was commissioned by David Hilliard, the Party chief of staff, to record her songs, a request resulting in the album Seize the Time.

Elaine Brown eventually assumed the role of editor of the Black Panther publication in the Southern California Branch of the Party.

In 1971, Elaine Brown became a member of the Party's Central Committee as Minister of Information, replacing the expelled Eldridge Cleaver.

In 1973, Brown was commissioned to record more songs by Black Panther Party founder and Minister of Defense Huey P Newton.

Elaine Brown ran again in 1975, losing again with 44 percent of the vote.

Elaine Brown chaired the Black Panther Party from 1974 until 1977.

Also, Elaine Brown founded the Panther's Liberation School, which was recognized by the state of California as a model school.

Elaine Brown stepped down from chairing the Black Panther Party less than a year after Newton's return from Cuba in 1977, when Newton refused to condemn the beating of Regina Davis, an administrator of the Panther Liberation School.

For many, Elaine Brown's leaving was seen as a turning point for the Party.

Elaine Brown left Oakland with her daughter, Ericka, and moved to Los Angeles.

Elaine Brown recorded two albums, Seize the Time and Until We're Free.

Elaine Brown eventually returned to the struggle for black liberation, especially espousing the need for radical prison reform.

In 1996, Elaine Brown moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and founded Fields of Flowers, Inc.

In 2003, Elaine Brown co-founded the National Alliance for Radical Prison Reform, which helps thousands of prisoners find housing after they are released on parole, facilitates transportation for family visits to prisons, helps prisoners find employment, and raises money for prisoner phone calls and gifts.

In 2005, while protesting a G-8 Summit in Sea Island, Georgia, Elaine Brown learned of the massive poverty in the nearby city of Brunswick, Georgia.

Elaine Brown later became a co-founder of the Brunswick Women's Association for a People's Blueprint.

Elaine Brown has continued her prison reform advocacy by lecturing frequently at colleges and universities in the US.

In March 2007, Elaine Brown announced her bid to be the 2008 Green Party presidential nominee.

Elaine Brown felt that a campaign was necessary to promote the interests of those not represented by the major political parties, especially the interests of women under 30 and African Americans.

Elaine Brown's platform focused on the needs of working-class families, promoting living wages for all, free health care, more funding for public education, more affordable housing, removal of troops from Iraq, improving the environment, and promoting equality.

Elaine Brown intended on using her campaign to bring many minorities to the Green Party in the hope that it would better represent a revolutionary force for social justice.

Elaine Brown has one daughter, Ericka Abram, fathered by Black Panther member Raymond Hewitt, but Hewitt was mostly absent from his daughter's life.