Kathleen Neal Cleaver is a Memphis, Texas born activist. Born to two college graduates, Cleaver attended a Quaker boarding school near Philadelphia, graduating in 1963. She later attended Oberlin College, then later transferred to Barnard College. In 1966, she left college for a secretarial job with the New York office of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Cleaver later joined the Black Party Panther for Self Defense (BPPSD) meeting her future husband, and the party's minister of information, Eldridge Cleaver. Given their involvement with the party the couple had created tension with law enforcement. Eldridge charged with attempted murder sought asylum in Cuba. After seven months the couple reunited as fugitives of the United States.
In 1971, party leader, Huey Newton and Eldridge had a disagreement leading to the collapse of the BPPSD. Later, the Cleavers formed a new organization called the Revolutionary People’s Communication Network. Kathleen returned to promoting and speaking about the new organization. In 1981, Cleaver enrolled at Yale University graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history only two years later. In 1987, she divorced Eldridge, and pursued a law degree.Cleaver now leads a simple life as a senior lecturer at Emory University School of Law. |