The Margaret Walker Center's archival collections document a wide array of facets of Black American history and culture with an emphasis on the Southern experience. This collection examines the contributions of women who participated in the Civil Rights and Black Liberation movements. Featured in this collection are materials from the Frankye Adams-Johnson Black Panther Party collection and several oral histories in which women share first-hand accounts of their roles and actions in various movement activities.
A newspaper article from Workers World. The writer interviews Safiya Asya Bukhari about her work in the community and with the Black Panthers and how that work brought police attention to her. At the time she was imprisoned at the Virginia Correctional Center for Women after being convicted in 1975 on weapons, murder, and robbery charges.
A newspaper article from The New Jersey Afro-American about Inez Garcia, a woman whose case became a rallying cry for feminists after she was acquitted for killing a man she says helped rape her. Garcia became a symbol for a woman’s right to defend herself. She says that she will go on to help other women who are imprisoned.
A speech about the role of Black women in the Republic of New Afrika. Sister Ayo writes that New Afrikan women are dedicated to the total liberation of their people and will also teach the history and heritage of their children to prepare them for self rule. The Republic of New Afrika was founded in 1968 and popularized by black militant groups.
A newspaper article from The Star Ledger about District Court Judge George H. Barlow inspecting the cell where Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) is being held in Middlesex County to stand trial for the May 1973 killing of a state trooper. Shakur was convicted in 1977 of the killing and escaped prison in 1979.
A newspaper article from The News Tribune about the testimony of State Police Detective James Challender describing what he saw at the emergency room where Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) and wounded state trooper Werner Foerster were taken after he was fatally shot. Shakur was on trial for the 1973 murder of Foerster.
A newspaper from the New Jersey Afro-American about discrepancies in the testimony of trooper James Harper in the trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. In cross-examination, it was revealed that Harper had not seen Shakur fire the shot that had wounded him even though he had claimed that earlier.
A newspaper article from The News Tribune about multiple disruptions on March 2, 1977, in the trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. Several spectators were ejected from the court after Superior Court Judge Theodore Appleby accused the defense team of orchestrating outbursts during evidence submission.
An essay that critiques certain aspects of the New Afrikan Women's Organization (NAWO). The author notes that "this critique is written in the spirit of unity and not for the purpose of dividing and/or malice."
A newspaper article from The Black Panther detailing the importance of women in the Black Panther Party and calling on other women to find their strength to fight for liberation. The article was written by Joan Byrd and Afeni Shakur, two of the New York 21 who were arrested in 1969 for allegedly planning the bombing of buildings in New York City.
Black liberation activist Miaisha Mitchell writes about the role of women in the Black liberation struggle, arguing that the men and women in the movement need to be disciplined in their personal relationships with each other as the divisions those can cause can have an effect on the greater movement.
A newspaper article from The Black Panther by June Culberson about the historical and worldly context of women in revolutionary movements. She writes that examples by women from China, Cuba, and Vietnam shows that women can and should be on equal footing with men in the revolutionary actions of the Black Panther Party.
Photocopy of a handwritten essay by Jolynn Brooks of the Role of Women Task Force. The author uses examples of revolutionary women in Algeria, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe to argue that culture must be understood for its revolutionary potential in organizing African people, specifically women.
A newspaper article from The Black Panther. Lois Newton, a member of the Black Panther Party, was beaten and arrested by New York police causing the loss of her unborn baby on November 28, 1970. This is her report on her meeting in jail with Angela Davis who was arrested in October 1970 on charges of kidnapping and murder; she was later acquitted.
A newspaper article from The News Tribune about forensic tests performed on the bodies of the victims and defendants in the murder trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) being inconclusive to show that the defendants held or shot the weapons in question. Shakur was on trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper.
Susie Noel has lived in the Farish Street District since 1922. She talks about her experiences with the NAACP and the violence against Black people in the district during the Civil Rights Movement. She recounts her relationships with some of the Freedom Riders. She also talks about the different businesses and people in the district from the past.
A newspaper article from The News Tribune summarizing key points from the prosecution's case after the state had rested its case against Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. The defense, after intense cross-examination of prosecution witnesses, was scheduled to begin presenting its case on March 14, 1977.
A speech by Frankye Adams-Johnson (Malika) about the Black Panthers delivered to the Community Self-Defense Program. She addresses the goals of the revolution, the actions of government agencies against them, and her motivation for joining the Party. With handwritten edits.
A newspaper article from The Home News about workmen cleaning painted slogans in support of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard), on trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper, from the Middlesex County Courthouse. Slogans such as “Free Assata” and “Stop the Lynching” had been spraypainted on the building between 1-2am.
A newspaper article from The Black Panther by Jackie Harper, Branch Secretary of the Corona Branch of the Black Panther Party. She tells the story of Robert “Big Bob” Heard who was framed for assault by the police and declares that the women of the Party will stand in solidarity with their brothers in the Party against the racist police forces.
A newspaper article from The Home News about the heavy security that accompanied Clark Squire on his move from Trenton State Prison to Middlesex County for a six hour meeting with Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) and her defense team. Squire was earlier convicted of the same 1973 killing of a state trooper that Shakur was on trial for.
A newspaper article from The News Tribune about Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) being in New Jersey to stand trial for the May 1973 killing of a state trooper. The author writes about the process that went into Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) being confined to solitary confinement and the court hearing that took place to examine the evidence.
A newspaper article from The Black Panther recounting several examples of the role Black women have played in the movement for Black liberation (date unknown). The article is credited to the Kansas City Chapter of Black Panther Party. A poem about Black women is also included in the article, author unknown.
A newspaper article from The Star Ledger about the defense team for Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard), on trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper, being denied calling an extra ballistics witness by the judge. The prosecution contended the witness was not valid since the defense team missed the cutoff date to add witnesses to their list.
A newspaper article from The Black Panther describing an incident in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where two pregnant women suffered injuries after a run-in with a grocery store security guard who was notorious for harassing Black customers. The women were subsequently arrested by the police and calls were made for firing the security guard.
A newspaper article from The News Tribune about Inez Garcia, a woman whose case became a rallying cry for feminists after she was acquitted for killing a man she says helped rape her. Garcia became a symbol for a woman’s right to defend herself. She says that she will go on to help other women who are imprisoned.
A newspaper article from The Star Ledger about slogans spray painted on the Middlesex County Courthouse in support of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) during her trial trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. Five women were arrested for another incident where pro-Shakur handbills were posted on the nearby county welfare office.
A photograph from the newspaper The Home News of Middlesex County Jail. The jail, where Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) was staying for her New Jersey trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper, had been found "grossly inadequate" in a comprehensive report. The report called for shorter terms and millions of dollars in upgrades.
A photograph from the newspaper The Home News of Middlesex County Jail. The jail, where Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) was staying for her New Jersey trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper, had been found "grossly inadequate" in a comprehensive report. Shakur was attempting to get transferred from the jail.
An interview with six unnamed Black Panther Women about the women's liberation movement and their experience with women's liberation within the Black Panther Party itself. The interviews were conducted at the Black Panther Party Headquarters on September 17, 1969 and circulated as a 4 page leaflet.
