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Support Eldridge Cleaver for President

Poster
1968 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Eldridge Cleaver played a critical role in the 1960s and 1970s Civil Rights Movement for African-Americans. He helped establish the Black Panther Party for Self Defense in Oakland, California in 1966, becoming the organisation's Minister of Information - its spokesman. He held many revolutionary and controversial views which he published in a book of essays titled 'Soul on Ice' in 1968. In the same year, he ran for President on the Peace & Freedom ticket. This poster advertises an event in New York to hear the candidate speak. At the time, his political platform would have been leftist and anti-establishment. After troubles with the law in 1968, Cleaver fled the U.S. He returned in 1975, and to the shock of many, renounced his Panther affiliation and many of his radical beliefs. Though unsuccessful, he even ran for the California Senate as a Republican. Looking back on Cleaver's life, this poster marks an important political moment from which he would later distance himself.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSupport Eldridge Cleaver for President (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Screenprint on thick paper
Brief description
Support Eldridge Cleaver for President. Peace & Freedom/ Black Panthers campaign poster. USA, 1968.
Physical description
Black poster with white text. Circular cartouches in upper left and lower right corners depicting the Black Panther's stalking panther and a dove or peace breaking chains.
Dimensions
  • Height: 58.4cm
  • Width: 44.8cm
Marks and inscriptions
Support/ Eldridge Cleaver/ for President/ at the Peace & Freedom/ Presidential/ Nominating/ Convention
Credit line
Gift of the American Friends of the V&A; Gift to the American Friends by Leslie, Judith and Gabri Schreyer and Alice Schreyer Batko
Production
San Francisco
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Summary
Eldridge Cleaver played a critical role in the 1960s and 1970s Civil Rights Movement for African-Americans. He helped establish the Black Panther Party for Self Defense in Oakland, California in 1966, becoming the organisation's Minister of Information - its spokesman. He held many revolutionary and controversial views which he published in a book of essays titled 'Soul on Ice' in 1968. In the same year, he ran for President on the Peace & Freedom ticket. This poster advertises an event in New York to hear the candidate speak. At the time, his political platform would have been leftist and anti-establishment. After troubles with the law in 1968, Cleaver fled the U.S. He returned in 1975, and to the shock of many, renounced his Panther affiliation and many of his radical beliefs. Though unsuccessful, he even ran for the California Senate as a Republican. Looking back on Cleaver's life, this poster marks an important political moment from which he would later distance himself.
Other number
LS.1070 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number
Collection
Accession number
E.757-2004

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Record createdAugust 6, 2004
Record URL
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