Ericka Huggins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ericka Huggins
|
|
|---|---|
Huggins in 2011
|
|
| Born |
Ericka Jenkins
January 5, 1948 Washington, D.C., U.S.
|
| Education | Cheyney University Lincoln University (BA) California State University, East Bay (MA) |
| Occupation | Activist, educator |
| Years active | 1967–present |
| Known for | New Haven Black Panther Trials |
| Political party | Black Panther Party |
| Spouse(s) |
John Huggins
(m. 1968; died 1969) |
| Partner(s) | James Mott (1971–1972) Lisbet Tellefsen (2006–present) |
| Children | 3 |
Ericka Huggins, born Ericka Jenkins on January 5, 1948, is an American activist, writer, and educator. She was an important member of the Black Panther Party (BPP). She married John Huggins, who was also a member of the BPP, in 1968.
Contents
Ericka Huggins' Early Life and Education
Ericka Jenkins was born in Washington, D.C.. She was the middle child in her family. After finishing high school in 1966, Huggins went to Cheyney State College, which is now called Cheyney University of Pennsylvania.
College Studies and Meeting John Huggins
She then attended Lincoln University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was an historically black school. There, she studied education. She met John Huggins at Lincoln University, and they later married in 1968. Even though the Black Student Congress at Lincoln University did not usually have female leaders, Huggins was an active member.
Advanced Education and Thesis Focus
Ericka Huggins earned a Master of Arts degree in sociology from California State University, East Bay. Her master's project looked at a new way of teaching. It suggested "student-centered, community-based tuition-free education." This idea aimed to help students deal with the long-lasting effects of race and gender challenges in America.
Ericka Huggins' Career and Teaching
In 1972, Ericka Huggins moved to California. She was chosen to be a member of the Berkeley Community Development Council. Later, in 1976, she was elected to the Alameda County Board of Education. She was the first Black person and the first Black woman to serve on this Board.
Teaching at Colleges and Universities
From 2008 to 2015, Huggins worked as a professor in the Peralta Community College District. She taught sociology, African American studies, and women's studies. She taught sociology at Laney College and Berkeley City College. She also taught women's studies at California State University. For over 30 years, she has given talks at places like Stanford University, Cornell University, and University of California, Los Angeles. Her talks covered topics such as education, spirituality, and prison reform.
Spirituality and Wellness Work
Huggins also worked for 15 years at the Siddha Yoga Prison Project. There, she led hatha yoga and meditation sessions. She taught these practices to people in prison, public school children, and college students. She continued sharing her spiritual practices for five years at the Mind/Body Medical Institute, which works with Harvard Medical School.
Ericka Huggins' Role in the Black Panther Party
While at Lincoln University, Ericka and John Huggins decided to join the Black Panther Party. Ericka was inspired after reading an article about how Huey P. Newton was treated in prison. In 1967, the couple moved to Los Angeles and joined the Black Panther Party.
Leadership and Personal Loss
Her husband, John Huggins, became a leader of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Black Panther Party. On January 17, 1969, John Huggins was killed on the UCLA campus. This happened because of a conflict between the Black Panther Party and another group, which was made worse by the FBI's COINTELPRO program. Ericka was at home with their three-week-old daughter when this happened. After his death, Ericka went to his funeral in his hometown of New Haven, Connecticut. She then decided to move there and help start a new Black Panther Party branch. She led this new chapter with two other women, Kathleen Neal Cleaver and Elaine Brown.
Key Roles and Longest Membership
While in the Black Panthers, Huggins had several important roles. She was an editor and writer for The Black Panther Intercommunal News Service. From 1973 to 1981, she was the director of the party's Oakland Community School. She was also a member of the party's Central Committee. Ericka Huggins was a member of the Black Panthers for 14 years, which is the longest time any woman was involved with the party.
New Haven Black Panther Trials
In 1969, members of the New Haven Black Panthers were accused of crimes related to Alex Rackley. Ericka Huggins and Black Panther Party co-founder Bobby Seale were charged with serious offenses. During the trial, a recording of Rackley's questioning was played, and Huggins' voice was heard on it. The trial led to protests across the country. People wondered if the Panthers would get a fair trial. The process of choosing the jury became the longest in the state's history. In May 1971, the jury could not agree on a verdict for Huggins. They voted 10 to 2 for her to be found not guilty. Because of this, she was not tried again.
Ericka Huggins' Writing and Poetry
While waiting for her trial from 1969 to 1972, Huggins spent her time writing in the Prison Niantic State Farm for Women. She wrote about the difficult social conditions she and her community faced. She believed that telling stories was a way to protect herself, express her own power, and promote education. Her writing often explored themes like love and hate, time and space, and spirituality. After she was released from prison and all charges were dropped, a book of poetry called Insights and Poems was published in 1975. She wrote this book with Huey P. Newton, who founded the Black Panther Party.
Personal Life
Ericka Huggins married John Huggins in 1968. Their daughter, Mai Huggins, was born when Ericka was 20 years old. Just three months after Mai's birth, Ericka became a widow when John Huggins was killed in January 1969. Ericka Huggins also has two sons. One of her sons is Rasa Sun Mott.
Images for kids
-
Huggins in 2011
