Ericka Huggins on Effective Change
By: Bernadette DeSalles
Issue date: 3/3/10 Section: News
California State University, Stanislaus students and faculty met at the Event Center last Friday night at 7:00 p.m. to hear Ericka Huggins, human rights activist and ex-Black Panther, talk about how to effectively handle injustices and what she terms" Institutional Racism."
Ericka Huggins spent many of her early years as a member of the Black Panthers. As a young African-American during the Civil Rights Movement, she decided she wanted to get involved and make a stance for civil rights.
She still is very much involved with human rights because she believes,"Things have not changed, people are still caught up in that racial mindset."
Huggins reminds us that being held back or oppressed can take on many different forms, and that we are being subjected to racial injustices just like those in history.
"WHAT DO WE DO NOW, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?" Huggins exclaimed, posing a question to us in her audience. "We live in a society that is systemic and diseased."
She called this disease "Institutional Racism," arguing that we may not even be aware of this deep-seated racial view as being hurtful and demeaning to others.
Sighing deeply, Huggins said,"That is just the way it is."
Huggins has lived through a hard time in history, including seeing her husband and fellow members of the Black Panthers shot down in the streets for their beliefs. She sat in a prison cell for two years, separated from her small infant daughter, while she was being tried for the murder of a fellow Black Panther.
She was cleared of the charges, and she returned home to her daughter who was now a toddler of two. She explained how she spent her time in prison trying to heal from what she had endured.
Huggins learned to mediate and come to grips with learning how to let go and forgive those who were responsible. She found a peace with understanding what was truly the most important thing, helping others combat racial injustices.
Huggins later repeated her question,"WHAT CAN WE DO,WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?", and the audience of about twenty- five people was silent at first. Then someone answered faintly off in the distance."We will fight back and demand change." Huggins answered,"Yes, you are on the right track, but be careful what course of action you plan to take to get the ball rolling. Force and anger should never be the answer to initiating change of any sort."
"Hate and anger will always hurt the cause, while the use of direct and honest action will benefit the cause. Avoid taking part in anything that could get someone hurt."
Huggins' message was loud and clear: when addressing racial injustices always use a peaceful direct approach to protest.
Ericka Huggins spent many of her early years as a member of the Black Panthers. As a young African-American during the Civil Rights Movement, she decided she wanted to get involved and make a stance for civil rights.
She still is very much involved with human rights because she believes,"Things have not changed, people are still caught up in that racial mindset."
Huggins reminds us that being held back or oppressed can take on many different forms, and that we are being subjected to racial injustices just like those in history.
"WHAT DO WE DO NOW, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?" Huggins exclaimed, posing a question to us in her audience. "We live in a society that is systemic and diseased."
She called this disease "Institutional Racism," arguing that we may not even be aware of this deep-seated racial view as being hurtful and demeaning to others.
Sighing deeply, Huggins said,"That is just the way it is."
Huggins has lived through a hard time in history, including seeing her husband and fellow members of the Black Panthers shot down in the streets for their beliefs. She sat in a prison cell for two years, separated from her small infant daughter, while she was being tried for the murder of a fellow Black Panther.
She was cleared of the charges, and she returned home to her daughter who was now a toddler of two. She explained how she spent her time in prison trying to heal from what she had endured.
Huggins learned to mediate and come to grips with learning how to let go and forgive those who were responsible. She found a peace with understanding what was truly the most important thing, helping others combat racial injustices.
Huggins later repeated her question,"WHAT CAN WE DO,WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?", and the audience of about twenty- five people was silent at first. Then someone answered faintly off in the distance."We will fight back and demand change." Huggins answered,"Yes, you are on the right track, but be careful what course of action you plan to take to get the ball rolling. Force and anger should never be the answer to initiating change of any sort."
"Hate and anger will always hurt the cause, while the use of direct and honest action will benefit the cause. Avoid taking part in anything that could get someone hurt."
Huggins' message was loud and clear: when addressing racial injustices always use a peaceful direct approach to protest.
Be the first to comment on this story