03/15/2026
Joanne Tarika Lewis made history in 1967 when she became the first woman to officially join the Black Panther Party (BPP) in Oakland, California at 17 years of age. Her entry broke the gender barrier in what was initially an all-male organization, paving the way for women to eventually make up the majority of the party’s membership.
Working alongside leaders like Ericka Huggins, Lewis helped establish the BPP’s presence in New Haven, focusing on community outreach and political education. A gifted graphic artist, she used her work in the Black Panther newspaper to challenge gender roles by depicting women as active, armed revolutionaries.
Beyond her work as a revolutionary artist for the Black Panther newspaper, she was a highly skilled sharpsh**ter who trained both men and women in the party. She was proficient with various f*rearms, and was often seen armed during party functions to deter police or vigilante att*cks. ✊🏿