Eldridge Cleaver

Eldridge Cleaver, born on August thirty-first, nineteen thirty-five, was a prominent African American writer and political activist. He emerged as an influential figure within the Black Panther Party, serving as the Minister of Information and later as the Head of the International Section while in exile. His role as editor of the party's official newspaper, The Black Panther, positioned him alongside founders Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale in shaping the party's direction.

In nineteen sixty-six, Cleaver faced a series of serious legal troubles, culminating in convictions for burglary, assault, rape, and attempted murder. His time in Folsom and San Quentin prisons marked a significant period in his life, and upon his release on parole, he published the controversial collection of essays, Soul on Ice, in nineteen sixty-eight. The book garnered both acclaim and criticism, particularly for its candid admissions regarding his past actions, including the serial rape of white women for what he described as 'insurrectionary' purposes.

That same year, Cleaver became a fugitive after an ambush that resulted in the wounding of two Oakland police officers and the death of fellow Black Panther Bobby Hutton. His relationship with Newton deteriorated, leading to a split that weakened the party's unity. Following seven years of exile in Cuba, Algeria, and France, Cleaver returned to the United States in nineteen seventy-five, where he ventured into fashion design, creating provocative clothing for men.

In the years that followed, Cleaver's life took a turn as he became involved with various religious groups, including the Unification Church and the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP). Eventually, he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and embraced conservative Republican ideals, making appearances at Republican events.