Ericka Huggins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ericka Huggins
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Huggins in 2011
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| Born |
Ericka Jenkins
January 5, 1948 Washington, D.C., U.S.
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| 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 (née Jenkins; born January 5, 1948) is an American activist, writer, and educator. She was a very important member of the Black Panther Party (BPP). She married John Huggins, who was also a member of the BPP, in 1968.
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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. She then attended Lincoln University. This was a historically Black school in Pennsylvania.
At Lincoln University, she studied education. She met John Huggins there, and they later married. Ericka Huggins was active in student groups. She even joined the Black Student Congress, even though they didn't always welcome female leaders. She later earned a Master of Arts degree in Sociology.
Ericka Huggins' Career
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.
From 2008 to 2015, Huggins taught at the Peralta Community College District. She was a professor of sociology, African American studies, and women's studies. She taught 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 many universities. These include Stanford University and Cornell University. She speaks about education, spirituality, and prison reform.
Huggins also worked for 15 years at the Siddha Yoga Prison Project. There, she taught hatha yoga and meditation. She worked with people who were in prison, public school children, and college students. She also shared her spiritual practices at the Mind/Body Medical Institute. This institute works with Harvard Medical School.
Joining the Black Panther Party
While at Lincoln University, Ericka and John Huggins decided to join the Black Panther Party. They were inspired by an article about the unfair treatment of Huey P. Newton. In 1967, they moved to Los Angeles and became members of the Party.
John Huggins became a leader of the Los Angeles Black Panther Party chapter. Sadly, he was killed on January 17, 1969, at the UCLA campus. Ericka was home with their three-week-old daughter at the time. After his death, Ericka moved to New Haven, Connecticut. She helped start a new Black Panther Party branch there. She led this new chapter with two other women, Kathleen Neal Cleaver and Elaine Brown.
During her time with the Black Panthers, Huggins had many important roles. She was an editor and writer for The Black Panther Intercommunal News Service. She also directed the Party's Oakland Community School from 1973 to 1981. She was a member of the Party's Central Committee. Ericka Huggins was a member of the Black Panthers for 14 years. This was the longest membership for any woman in the Party.
Writing and Poetry
While she faced legal challenges from 1969 to 1972, Huggins spent time writing. She wrote about the difficult social conditions she and her community faced. She believed that telling stories was a way to defend herself and inspire change. Her writing explores themes like love, hate, time, and spirituality.
After her legal issues were resolved, a book of poetry was released in 1975. It was called Insights and Poems. Ericka Huggins 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, John Huggins was killed in January 1969. Ericka also has two sons. One of her sons is Rasa Sun Mott.
