The Black Panther Party

Big Man Elbert Howard Black Panther Party founding member
Big Man (far right), Black Panther demonstration, Oakland CA, July 1968. Photo courtesy of Pirkle Jones

Elbert "Big Man" Howard is one of the original founding members of the Black Panther Party. Big Man was a Black Panther from 1966 to 1974. During that time he served as Deputy Minister of Information and was a member of the Central Committee and the International Solidarity Committee. Many remember him as the first editor of the BPP newspaper and Party spokesperson.

Big Man will be interviewed by Pat Thurston on KGO Newstalk 810AM on your radio dial this Saturday, Jan 21st, starting shortly after 10:00AM.
Listen live on KGOAM810.com.

"Ex-Panther Leader: King was 'Moral Center'
Read the article by Julie Johnson published January 15th in the Press Democrat

Read the article regarding Big Man's upcoming keynote speech.
(Written by Chris Smith and featured in the January 1st, 2012 Press Democrat.)


Big Man will be the keynote speaker at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Birthday Celebration on Sunday, January 15th at the Santa Rosa High School Auditorium. Click here for the fullsize flier.



Big Man is featured on the cover of the North Bay Bohemian. Read the article online or download a copy.

Two new articles have been posted to the writings page. One by Big Man, Grove Street College, and one by Billy X Jennings, 45th yr Celebration in Oakland 2011.

Big Man has a vision for a new museum in Oakland CA to celebrate the rich and diverse community and its history. Read more about Big Man's dream for the West Oakland African American Heritage Museum and Research Center.


read a review of this exhibit...

Read Big Man's review of 'Showdown in Desire: The Black Panthers take a stand in New Orleans', by Orissa Arend. The review appeared in SF Bay View.

Big Man Elbert Howard Black Panther Party founding member   45th Black Panther Party reunion
Big Man, BPP 40th Reunion, Oakland, 2006
photo copyright 2006 Jerry Whiting