The talk Cat Brooks and Ericka Huggins – Life Is Living was recorded in 2016 as part of the Life Is Living festival, an annual event that celebrates art, activism, and community engagement, particularly centering Black and Brown communities in Oakland, California. This conversation features two powerful voices in social justice: Cat Brooks, a longtime activist, organizer, and co-founder of the Anti Police-Terror Project (APTP), and Ericka Huggins, a former leader in the Black Panther Party, educator, and human rights advocate.
During the discussion, Brooks and Huggins explore the intersections of resistance, healing, and movement-building, reflecting on historical and contemporary struggles against state violence and systemic oppression. They share personal experiences in activism—Huggins from her time as a leader in the Black Panther Party and her focus on mindfulness and education in incarcerated communities, and Brooks from her frontline organizing against police violence in Oakland.
The talk delves into themes of Black liberation, community care, and intergenerational organizing, emphasizing how past movements inform present struggles. Huggins discusses the importance of self-care as a revolutionary act, a philosophy rooted in her experiences surviving incarceration, political repression, and loss. Brooks, known for her fiery activism and role in Oakland’s protest movements, speaks to the urgency of confronting police brutality, advocating for policy change, and building sustainable grassroots movements.
Throughout their conversation, they uplift the role of Black women in activism, the need for radical love as a tool for transformation, and the ongoing fight for justice in a city with deep revolutionary roots. Their dialogue serves as both a historical reflection and a call to action, urging listeners to continue the legacy of struggle while prioritizing healing and well-being.