Pat Parker
Biography
Pat Parker was born in Houston, Texas, in 1944. She moved to California at age 17 and later studied at San Francisco State College. Parker became involved in civil rights, women's rights, and gay rights activism and began identifying as a lesbian in the late 1960s. Her poetry addressed race, sexuality, gender, relationships, violence, and personal experience.
Parker published five poetry collections, beginning with Child of Myself (1972), followed by Pit Stop (1975), Movement in Black (1978), Woman Slaughter (1978), and Jonestown and Other Madness (1985). In 1976, she collaborated with Judy Grahn on the recording Where Would I Be Without You.
In 1978, Parker became director of the Feminist Women's Health Center in Oakland, a position she held through 1987. She founded the Black Women's Revolutionary Council in 1980 and also founded the Women's Press Collective. Parker remained active in Black feminist, lesbian, and women's rights organizing until her death in Oakland in 1989.
BQW Impact
Parker's poetry and activism brought Black lesbian experiences into conversations about race, feminism, sexuality, violence, and women's liberation. Her work with lesbian poetry communities, the Black Women's Revolutionary Council, the Women's Press Collective, and the Feminist Women's Health Center connected literary expression with Black feminist and women's rights organizing.
Notable Works
Child of Myself (1972)
Parker's first published poetry collection, exploring identity, race, sexuality, and personal experience.
Where Would I Be Without You (1976)
Collaborative recording with Judy Grahn that reflects Parker's participation in lesbian poetry and literary communities.
Movement in Black (1978)
Poetry collection addressing Black identity, feminism, sexuality, and political struggle.
Feminist Women's Health Center (1978 - 1987)
Directed the Oakland center, working on women's health, domestic violence, and sexual violence.
Learn More
Academy of American Poets, Pat Parker
Biographical and bibliographic information documenting Parker's poetry, activism, lesbian identity, and major publications.
Profile covering Parker's literary career, Bay Area activism, women's health work, and poetry collections.
Harvard Schlesinger Library, Pat Parker Papers
Archival collection documenting Parker's life and work as an African-American feminist lesbian poet and activist.