Denise Oliver-Velez, "Sojourner Truth: Revolutionary Black Woman" (June 1970) in Palante
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It is important for us to know the history of Puerto Rican and Black women who fought for freedom of our peoples. We are not taught about them because even today people believe that women had no role in history. People still believe that women are only supposed to stay at home, cooking and sewing and raising children. These are the same things that were said to Sojourner Truth over a hundred years ago and they are still being said now. Women who speak out against injustice and fight for revolution are accused of acting like men, and we must understand that revolution is the job of men and women, brothers and sisters. We must learn from great women like Lolita Lebron, Carmen Perez, Antonia Martinez, Kathleen Cleaver and Ericka Huggins. This is what Point 10 of the YOUNG LORDS PARTY 13-Point Program and Platform means when it says "We want equality for women; machismo must be revolutionary and not oppressive."

— Denise Oliver-Velez on Ericka Huggins

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "It is important for us to know the history of Puerto Rican and Black women who fought for freedom of our peoples. We are not taught about them because even today people believe that women had no role in history. People still believe that women are only supposed to stay at home, cooking and sewing and raising children. These are the same things that were said to Sojourner Truth over a hundred years ago and they are still being said now. Women who speak out against injustice and fight for revolution are accused of acting like men, and we must understand that revolution is the job of men and women, brothers and sisters. We must learn from great women like Lolita Lebron, Carmen Perez, Antonia Martinez, Kathleen Cleaver and Ericka Huggins. This is what Point 10 of the YOUNG LORDS PARTY 13-Point Program and Platform means when it says "We want equality for women; machismo must be revolutionary and not oppressive."" in the context of "Denise Oliver-Velez, "Sojourner Truth: Revolutionary Black Woman" (June 1970) in Palante" to mean that wisdom is timeless.

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Source: Wikiquote: "Ericka Huggins" (Quotes about Ericka Huggins) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 19, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
Denise Oliver-Velez

About Denise Oliver-Velez

Denise Oliver-Velez (born August 1, 1947) is an American professor, contributing editor, activist and community organizer. She was was a member of both the Young Lords Party and The Black Panther Party.