Who was Eldridge Cleaver? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Died At Age: 62

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Kathleen Cleaver 1967–1987)

children: Ahmad Maceo Eldridge Cleaver, Joju Younghi Cleaver

Born Country: United States

African American Men African American Authors

Died on: May 1, 1998

place of death: Pomona

U.S. State: Arkansas

Ideology: Republicans

Recommended For You

1

What was Eldridge Cleaver's role in the Black Panther Party?

Eldridge Cleaver was a prominent member of the Black Panther Party and served as the Minister of Information for the organization.
2

What impact did Eldridge Cleaver have on the Civil Rights Movement?

Eldridge Cleaver played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement as a prominent activist and writer, advocating for racial equality and social justice.
3

How did Eldridge Cleaver's writing influence the political landscape of the 1960s and 1970s?

Cleaver's influential book "Soul on Ice" provided a critical perspective on race relations in America and was a catalyst for discussions on systemic racism and inequality.
4

What led Eldridge Cleaver to become a political activist?

Cleaver's personal experiences with racism and his time in prison fueled his passion for social justice, leading him to become a vocal advocate for civil rights.
5

How did Eldridge Cleaver's views evolve over time?

Cleaver's perspectives on race, politics, and society evolved throughout his life, transitioning from radical activism to more conciliatory and spiritual beliefs in his later years.

Recommended Lists:

Childhood & Early Life

Born in Wabbaseka, Arkansas, Eldridge Cleaver’s father was a waiter and musician. His mother was a teacher. His family moved to Phoenix, Arizona during his childhood days. Later, they shifted to Los Angeles.

As a teenager, he spent a brief period in several detention centres for his involvement in petty crime. He was even convicted of a felony drug charge for which he was imprisoned at the adult prison of Soledad, California.

In 1958, police detained him on a charge of rape and assault with intent to murder for which he was imprisoned at Folsom State Prison, Californian. Later, he was moved to San Quentin State Prison, California.

Continue Reading Below

Recommended Lists:

Later Life

During his days in prison, he remained busy in writing a number of philosophical and political essays. ‘Ramparts’ magazine first published these writings of Cleaver.

After his release from prison in 1966, he joined the Black Panther Party, a black revolutionary socialist organization located in Oakland, California. He acted as Minister of Information of this party.

In association with Marvin X, Ed Bullins and Ethna Wyatt, he set up the Black House political centre in San Francisco in 1967. In the next year, he was a Presidential candidate on the ticket of the Peace and Freedom Party.

In the same year, he led an ambush of Oakland police officers. At the time of the ambush, two officers were wounded. When he was charged with attempted murder he escaped to Cuba. Later he went to Algeria.

In Algeria, he lived with Timothy Leary, an American psychologist and writer who used to promote the usage of psychedelic drugs. Due to Leary’s involvement in the promotion of drugs, Cleaver placed him under revolutionary arrest. In 1972, he left Algeria and went to France.

In 1975, he came back to the United States and became a ‘born again Christian’. At that time, he went through legal difficulties arising from his involvement in the armed Panther attack on Oakland police in 1968.

The long legal wrangling resulted in his conviction to probation for assault. Finally in 1980, he confessed about his role in leading the Panther group on a deliberate ambush of the police officers.

During 1980s, he became a conservative Republican and made public appearance at several Republican events. On December 11, 1983, he was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In 1988, he was on probation for burglary. He was also imprisoned that year after testing positive for cocaine. After two years, he entered drug rehabilitation centre.

Continue Reading Below

Later, Oakland and Berkeley Police arrested him for possession of drug. At the time of his death, he acted as a diversity consultant at the University of La Verne, located near Los Angeles.

Recommended Lists:

American Leaders

American Political Leaders

Major Works

He published his collection of political and philosophical essays in the form of a book titled “Soul on Ice” in 1968. He divided the essays of this book into four thematic sections.

The section “Letters from Prison” states about his experience and thoughts on criminal activities. The episode of “Blood of the Beast” expresses his view about race relations and supports the ideology of black liberation.

The section “Prelude to Love – Three Letters” are the collection of his love letters that he wrote for his attorney Beverly Axelrod. The part of “White Woman, Black Man” discusses his opinion on gender relations, black masculinity and sexuality.

In 1978, he published “Soul on Fire”. This book is a vivid account of his days in exile in Algeria. In it, he stated about the regular stipends from the government of North Vietnam.

Personal Life & Legacy

On December 27, 1967, he tied the nuptial knot with Kathleen Neel Cleaver with whom he had a son, Ahmad Maceo Eldridge Cleaver and two daughters, Joju Younghi and Patrica Cleaver. He divorced Kathleen in 1987.

He passed away at the age of 62 at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Centre in Los Angeles due to cancer. He was buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena, California.

Facts About Eldridge Cleaver

Eldridge Cleaver was a prominent figure in the Black Panther Party and known for his influential writing and activism during the civil rights movement.

Cleaver was also a published author, with his best-known work being "Soul on Ice," which explored his experiences with racism and incarceration.

In 1975, Cleaver renounced his past revolutionary activities and became a born-again Christian, focusing on spiritual growth and personal transformation.

Cleaver later pursued a career in design and fashion, launching his own clothing line and advocating for African American cultural expression through his work.

Despite his controversial past, Cleaver ultimately sought redemption and reconciliation, working towards positive social change in his later years.

Eldridge Cleaver Biography

You wanted to know

What was Eldridge Cleaver's role in the Black Panther Party?

What impact did Eldridge Cleaver have on the Civil Rights Movement?

How did Eldridge Cleaver's writing influence the political landscape of the 1960s and 1970s?

What led Eldridge Cleaver to become a political activist?

How did Eldridge Cleaver's views evolve over time?