The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense was co-founded by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale in Oakland, California (October 1966-1982). The organization grew nationally and internationally, drawing attention to and providing solutions for stark political, economic, educational, and social inequalities. In its lifetime, members created more than 60 community programs (including free breakfast for schoolchildren, free sickle cell anemia testing, free health clinics, and education programs).
In this book, Stephen Shames' photos of women at work in many of the BPP's survival programs between 1967 and 1973 are accompanied by the reflections of more than 50 BPP women or their family members talking about their experiences as BPP members.
A 1-page PDF with hyperlinks designed to provide educators quick access to the study guide and posters provided by ACC Art Books, Comrade Sisters Women of the BPP Book Tour Event videos, websites and social media related to women of the Black Panther Party.
Download ResourcesThe official companion guide for the Comrade Sisters book. The 12-page PDF includes BPP history for context, highlights BPP womens' experiences, suggests activities that can be completed with or without access to the book, and has 2 pages of resources for further research and study.
Download free Comrade Sisters: Women of the Black Panther Party high definition posters designed by ACC Art Books!
The Comrade Sisters Women of the Black Panther Party national book tour has visited more than 30 locations. Several university and community venues livestreamed these events.
This Comrade Sisters Women of the Black Panther Party book tour event took place in Palo Alto, California. Women of the BPP panelists included M. Gayle "Asali" Dickson, ericka huggins, and Rosita Thomas. They were joined by photographer Stephen Shames and the panel was moderated by Dr. Kimberly Thomas McNair.
Presentation by Stephen Shames: 5:08 - 16:00
Moderated women of the BPP panel: 16:05 - 1:05:20
This Comrade Sisters Women of the Black Panther Party book tour event took place in Berkeley, California. Women of the BPP panelists included ericka huggins, Dr. Judy Juanita, and Madalynn Rucker. They were joined by photographer Stephen Shames and the panel was moderated by Corey Rose.
Presentation by Stephen Shames: 8:40 - 21:22
Moderated women of the BPP panel: 21:41 - 58:38
Audience Q & A: 59:00
This Comrade Sisters Women of the Black Panther Party book tour event took place in Manhattan, New York. Women of the BPP panelists included Cheryl Dawson, ericka huggins, and Regina Jennings. They were joined by photographer Stephen Shames and Jeffrey Scales, New York Times photo editor and author of In a Time of Panthers (2022). The panel was moderated by Dr. Deborah Willis.
Presentation by Jeffrey Scales: 9:37 - 19:11
Presentation by Stephen Shames: 19:15 - 36:06
Women of the BPP Panel: 36:08 - 1:08:37
Audience Q & A: 1:08:55
This Comrade Sisters Women of the Black Panther Party book tour event took place in Harlem, New York. Women of the BPP panelists included Cheryl Dawson, Lynn French, ericka huggins, and Yasmeen Majid. They were joined by photographer Stephen Shames and the panel was moderated by Dr. Robyn C. Spencer.
Presentation by Stephen Shames 18:32 - 27:25
Moderated Conversation w/ the co-authors 27:42 - 42:20
Moderated Conversation w/ the co-authors 27:42 - 42:20
Audience Q & A: 58:18
This Comrade Sisters Women of the Black Panther Party book tour event took place in Washington, D.C. at the Smithsonian's National African American Museum of History and Culture. Women of the BPP panelists included Cheryl Dawson, Lynn French, ericka huggins, and Hazel Mack. They were joined by photographer Stephen Shames and the panel was moderated by Dr. Angela Tate.
Presentation by Stephen Shames 3:42 - 8:13
Moderated Conversation w/ the women begins at 8:15
The Comrade Sisters Women of the Black Panther Party national book tour has visited more than 30 locations. Several university and community venues livestreamed these events.
On Friday October 28th Columbia University hosted co-authors Stephen Shames and ericka huggins and a women of the bpp panel featuring huggins, New York Panther Claudia Chesson-Williams, and Chicago Panther Lynn French.
Comrade Sisters stayed in Brooklyn and, the next evening, had an event at The Brooklyn Circus/BKc.
Denise Oliver-Velez, who was both a New York Chapter Black Panther member and a Young Lords member, joined the conversation at Greenlight Books on Flatbush in Brooklyn.
Everywhere we went Panther Party members were asked to stand and be honored.
New York was home for a week from October 24th-30th during which time we had 8 events in 6 days.
At the Oakland Museum of California, the October 21st Comrade Sisters Women of the Black Panther Party event was held outdoors as part of the weekly Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid series featuring music and food trucks.