Margaret Sloan-Hunter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Margaret Sloan-Hunter
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| Born | May 31, 1947 Chattanooga, Tennessee |
| Died | September 23, 2004 (aged 57) Oakland, California |
| Literary movement | Congress of Racial Equality; National Black Feminist Organization |
Margaret Sloan-Hunter (born May 31, 1947 – died September 23, 2004) was an important Black feminist and civil rights leader. She was also one of the first editors of Ms. magazine.
Contents
Early Life and Activism
Margaret Sloan-Hunter was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1947. She spent her childhood growing up in Chicago.
When Margaret was 14, she joined the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). This group worked to solve problems like poverty in the African-American community in Chicago.
At age 17, she started the Junior Catholic Inter-Racial Council. This group brought together students from different areas. They talked about and worked on racial issues.
In 1966, Sloan-Hunter worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She helped with his work at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. She also took part in the "Open Housing Marches." These marches fought for fair housing for everyone.
Working for Change
Sloan-Hunter became one of the first editors of Ms. magazine. This magazine supported the feminist movement. Besides editing, she traveled to speak about sexism and racism. She gave talks across the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Margaret Sloan-Hunter teamed up with Jane Galvin-Lewis, another writer from Ms.. They wanted to show how racism and sexism were connected problems. In 1973, they joined Florynce Kennedy to speak at colleges.
Their events became places where other Black feminists could meet. They formed support groups for each other. This led Sloan-Hunter, Kennedy, and others to create the National Black Feminist Organization (NBFO). In the NBFO, women worked to define the specific challenges Black women faced. Through the NBFO, Sloan-Hunter continued to fight for the issues she cared about.
In 1975, Margaret and her daughter Kathleen Sloan moved to Oakland, California. There, they started the Women's Foundation. She also helped create the Berkeley Women's Center. She also helped start the Feminist School for Girls. Sloan-Hunter was an activist for many causes. She fought for African American rights and feminist causes.
Writing and Education
Sloan-Hunter published a book of poetry called Black & Lavender in 1995. This book contained 38 poems about her life experiences.
Margaret Sloan-Hunter won many awards for public speaking in high school. She studied speech at Chicago City College and Malcolm X College. Later, she earned a degree in Women's Studies from Antioch University in San Francisco.
Featured in Media
Sloan-Hunter's activism was shown in the TV show Mrs. America. This show aired on Hulu in the spring of 2020.
Later Life
Margaret Sloan-Hunter passed away in Oakland, California, when she was 57 years old. Her family shared that she had been ill for a long time. She died on September 23, 2004.
