Life, blood, and oxygen: women in the Black Panther Party and the American Indian movement

The historiography of the Black Panther Party (BPP) and the American Indian Movement (AIM) abundantly documents the actions of the men in the organizations. Most texts relegate women to a single chapter. The androcentric perspective allows the histories of these two revolutionary groups to ignore the struggles and contributions of the female members. This thesis examines the roles of the women in the BPP and AIM from standpoint feminism. Life, Blood, and Oxygen asks a variation of Julie D. Shayne’s “revolution question:” what did revolution offer women and what did women offer revolution? By researching women’s autobiographies and writings as viable historical documents, this analysis gives voice to these women and their contributions to the movement. By asking the question, “What did revolution offer women,” the thesis studies the triple oppression of race, class, and gender that women from these two communities experienced. It covers the women’s reasons for becoming involved in paramilitary organizations, government programs such as the forced sterilization programs, and other subsequent attacks on the bodies of women compelled the women to take up arms. Women did not just experience discrimination from outside forces, but also from sexual discrimination that prevailed within the Panthers and the American Indian Movement. Given the misogyny in these two organizations, what did revolution offer women? The final section asks the second half of the question, “What did women offer revolution?” By asserting that a revolution must be defined by the objectives that it desires to achieve, Life, Blood, and Oxygen answers it by examining the actions of women during the Panther’s “Service to the People” programs and women’s participation in AIM during the occupations of Alcatraz and Wounded Knee. Both AIM and the BPP released revolutionary statements in their platforms, although it was the women that made these demands possible and delivered them to the masses. Women offered the revolution life, blood, and oxygen by providing their communities with food, education, and medical care to keep the struggle going. These women had various motives for their actions. Many were mothers and students who witnessed daily the needs of the people in their communities. Today, many of the women who participated in the 1960’s and 1970’s revolutionary movements continue to be active in the fight for justice. Former members of the BPP and AIM continue to fight for social change.