Connie Matthews facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Connie Matthews
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Matthews photographed in Denmark, 1968
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| Born |
Constance Evadine Matthews
August 3, 1943 |
| Died | c. 1993 (aged 49–50) Jamaica
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| Political party | Black Panther Party |
| Movement | Black Power Movement |
| Spouse(s) | Michael Tabor (m. c. 1970) |
Constance Evadine Matthews (born August 3, 1943 – died 1993), known as Connie Matthews, was an important organizer for the Black Panther Party. She was active with the party between 1968 and 1971. Living in Denmark, she helped connect the Black Panthers with other political groups in Europe.
Contents
Connie Matthews: A Key Organizer
Early Life and Education
Connie Matthews was born in Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica, on August 3, 1943. As a young adult, she studied in London and Vienna. She earned a master's degree in psychology. Before joining the Black Panthers, Matthews worked for the International Folk Music Council in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 1967 to 1969. She first became involved with the Black Panthers in 1968.
Connecting the Black Panthers Globally
In May 1969, the Black Panthers officially named Matthews their "International Coordinator." This meant she was in charge of organizing support and raising money for the party outside the United States. Her job was to tell people in places like Scandinavia about the struggles of Black and oppressed people.
In early 1969, Matthews helped organize a trip for Black Panther leaders Bobby Seale and Raymond Hewitt. They traveled around Northern Europe. The main goals were to meet with European political groups and raise money. This money was for the "Free Huey" campaign, which aimed to get Huey P. Newton released from prison. The trip was very successful. The Black Panthers praised Matthews for her hard work. This led her to become even more involved with the party.
Matthews continued to build strong support for the Black Panthers in Europe. She also convinced French writer Jean Genet to visit the United States. He joined the "Free Huey" campaign.
Working with British Activists
In February 1970, Matthews went on a trip to the United Kingdom. The goal was to strengthen ties between the Black Panther Party and the Black Power Movement in Britain. Since she was from Jamaica, a Commonwealth country, and had studied in London, she understood British ways of speaking. However, during her tour, she spoke more like the American Black Panthers.
She shared her ideas with British Black Panthers. She encouraged them to work with non-Black liberals and socialists. She believed it was better than having many small groups that didn't work with white people. Her direct style sometimes surprised the British audience.
Writing for the Party
Matthews also started visiting the United States. She wrote articles for The Black Panther, the party's official newspaper. She became the personal secretary for party leader Huey Newton.
Life in Exile and Later Years
Joining Michael Tabor
Connie Matthews married Michael Tabor, another member of the Black Panther Party. In February 1971, Tabor and another member, Richard Moore, did not show up for their trial. They left the United States. Matthews was also criticized by some in the party for leaving.
A month later, Moore, Tabor, and Matthews appeared in Algeria. Other Black Panther leaders, like Eldridge Cleaver and Kathleen Cleaver, had also moved there. They joined a group of Black Panthers who had left the United States. This group was sometimes called "The International Section of the Black Panther Party."
Challenges and New Paths
This group in Algeria faced some disagreements with the main Black Panther Party in America. These tensions were made worse by the FBI. The FBI used a secret program called COINTELPRO to cause problems within activist groups.
Eventually, the Black Panthers in Algeria went their separate ways. In 1972, Tabor and Matthews moved to Zambia. Connie Matthews later returned to her home country of Jamaica. She passed away in 1993.
Images for kids
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Connie Matthews in Denmark, 1968
