I have been enjoying reading about the members of the Black Panther. History tends to minimize their impact and downplay who they were and what they represent. Propaganda to be exact. I have always heard about Huey Newton and Eldridge Cleaver when the topic of Black Panthers come up. So I took it upon myself to do my own research and I found Assata and Ericka Huggins and I’m glad I did. The women’s roles are so downplayed. What Ericka stood for and what she fought for despite everything in her personal life was very admirable. Hats off to her.

"Black Panther Woman: The Political and Spiritual Life of Erika Huggins" by Mary Frances Phillips is a powerful biography that explores the life and legacy of Ericka Huggins, a prominent member of the Black Panther Party. As a queer Black woman, Huggins introduced spiritual self-care practices to the Black Panther Party, significantly influencing the movement's approach to wellness and mental health. This biography provides an in-depth exploration of Huggins’s multifaceted roles as a mother, widow, educator, poet, and former political prisoner. Phillips skillfully brings to light Huggins’s ordeal, from her arrest in 1969 along with Bobby Seale to the harrowing experience of political persecution under the FBI's COINTELPRO plot. Through the use of previously unseen archival materials, Phillips paints a vivid picture of Huggins’s enduring commitment to self-care and community care during her incarceration and beyond.

Phillips’s work transcends traditional narratives centered on male figures in the Black Panther Party, offering an innovative analysis of Black political life that intersects with gender, motherhood, and mass incarceration. The biography underscores the vital role of spiritual care in Huggins’s journey. I enjoyed reading about 'The Sister Love Collective' - the feminist collective Ericka co-founded to help women survive the daily evils of prison. This text amplifies how she utilized meditation and other practices to navigate and survive the oppressive conditions of prison life. "Black Panther Woman" serves as an essential toolkit for contemporary activists, demonstrating the power of operating with a love ethic and the importance of strategies for thriving in adversity with community care at the center. Phillips's meticulous research and compelling storytelling make this biography not only a tribute to Huggins’s remarkable life but also a profound testament to the powerful significance of self-care and community support in the struggle for justice and equality. Thank you to the author and publisher for the e-arc copy!