Elbert Howard

Elbert Howard (January 5, 1938 – July 23, 2018),[1] better known as Big Man, was an American civil rights activist and author who was one of the founding members of the Black Panther Party.[2][3][4][5]

Elbert Howard
Howard lecturing in Amsterdam, The Netherlands in January 1970
Born(1938-01-05)January 5, 1938
Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedJuly 23, 2018(2018-07-23) (aged 80)
Santa Rosa, California, U.S.
Other namesBig Man
OccupationActivist, author, lecturer
Spouse(s)
Carole Hyams
(
m. 2007)

Black Panther

Howard spent several years in the United States Air Force in Europe. After receiving an honorable discharge from the Air Force, Howard moved to Oakland, California. While attending Merritt College, Howard met Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton. In 1966, at the age of 28, he became one of the six original founding members of the Black Panther Party. The others were Bobby Seale, Huey Newton, "L'il" Bobby Hutton, Reggie Forte and Sherman Forte. Howard was an active member of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense from 1966 through 1974,[6] and acted as the Party's "Deputy Minister of Information", often functioning as a lead spokesperson for the party while other members were imprisoned.[7]

Post-party

After leaving the party in 1974, Howard returned to Tennessee. In Memphis, he served on the boards of directors of several African American progressive educational institutions.

In 2001, Howard self-published his memoir, Panther on the Prowl, covering the rise and fall of the Black Panthers.[8] In 2003, he was a coordinator for the All of Us or None Ex-Offender Program, and also was a member of the Millions for Reparations committee.

Later life
Howard in 2012

Until his death, Howard lived in Forestville, California[9] with his wife Carole Hyams. They married in 2007.[10] He was a founder of the Police Accountability Clinic & Helpline of Sonoma County, and a Board member of KWTF, a community radio station. As a lifelong lover of America's original musical art form, Jazz, he hosted jazz/blues programs at several radio stations.

Howard died on July 23, 2018.[11]

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References
  1. Elbert Howard (2005) Panther on the Prowl
  2. "July 23, 2018". Elbert -Big Man- Howard joined the ancestors today. July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  3. "Black Panther Party co-founder Elbert 'Big Man' Howard dies at age 80". The Province. July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  4. Lise Pearlman (February 1, 2012) The Sky's the Limit: People v. Newton, The REAL trial of the 20th Century?Regent Press
  5. Curtis J. Austin (March 1, 2008) Up Against the Wall: Violence in the Making and Unmaking of the Black Panther Party University of Arkansas Press
  6. Curtis J. Austin (March 1, 2008) Up Against the Wall: Violence in the Making and Unmaking of the Black Panther Party University of Arkansas Press
  7. Genzlinger, Neil (July 26, 2018). "Elbert Howard, a Founder of the Black Panthers, Dies at 80". nytimes.com. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  8. Hunt, Emily (August 10, 2011). "As Big as Ever". North Bay Bohemian. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
  9. As Big as Ever | News | North Bay Bohemian Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  10. Rafkin, Louise (April 6, 2008). "Elbert "Big Man" Howard and Carole Hyams: Not-so-lost love". SFGate. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
  11. "Black Panther Party co-founder Elbert 'Big Man' Howard dies". Regina Leader-Post. 2018-07-24. Retrieved 2018-07-24.
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