Gag City

This women played major roles in Black liberation, community organizing, and political education during the 1960s and 1970s. Angela Davis, Kathleen Cleaver, Denise Velez, Afeni Shakur, Assata Shakur, and Elaine Brown were central figures in movements focused on racial justice, political self-determination, and community survival. Their work included organizing grassroots programs, developing political education, addressing police violence, advocating for prisoners’ rights, and building mutual aid initiatives. Many of these efforts were foundational to broader civil rights and Black Power movements, even though women’s leadership was often overlooked or minimized at the time. Several of these women faced surveillance, arrests, trials, incarceration, or exile. Others navigated internal challenges within political organizations while continuing to push for structural change. Their contributions extended beyond protests and speeches into day-to-day organizing that sustained communities under pressure. This image documents an important part of American history and highlights the role of women whose leadership helped shape political movements that continue to influence conversations about justice, equality, and civil rights today.