A former leader of the Black Panther Party told students attending the Big Eight Conference on Black Student Government this weekend that the Civil War was not fought because of slavery, but as a military tactic instead.

Elaine Brown, leader of the Panthers from 1974-1977, said the Civil War was not fought over issues of slavery.

Instead, Lincoln signed the Proclamation of Emancipation as a military tactic when the South was winning, she said.

“Lincoln freed the slaves in seceding states so that the slaves would say ‘Ain’t gonna work on Maggie’s farm no more’, leave, and then Billy Bob would have to go home,” Brown said.

In her lecture called, “Racism, Gender, Oppression and Class Disparity in America,” Brown spoke on the realization of the vision of an inclusive egalitarian society, focusing on resolving problems of racism, class disparity and ideological terrorism.

Brown spoke about the historical revolution of black people from Africa to slavery through centuries of oppression to the beginning of a revolution.

She questioned why there is a Lincoln Memorial and no national memorial or apology to the people enslaved prior to the war. Brown said people like abolitionist John Brown should be considered heroes.

Brown continued the history by speaking of activism and movements. The Black Panther Party was formed in 1966 in Oakland, Calif. in response to harassment and violence being suffered in the black community. Brown joined the group in 1968 and began working in the Free Breakfast for Children Program.

She went on to become editor of the Party’s newspaper, Minister of Information, an international representative and head of the party during Huey Newton’s exile in Cuba.

Brown said J. Edgar Hoover stated the Black Panther Party was the biggest threat to America and she said people were threatened by the misconceptions.

“We were a threat because we inspired other people, not only blacks but Hispanics, Chinese, American Indians and poor whites from Appalachia,” Brown said.

“We meant black power to black people, brown power to brown people, white power to white people.” Brown said racism in America is permanent and the oppressed need to be helped before a revolution can be started. She said racism is not a bad image, but a bad reality that needs to be addressed.

“I’ve had the opportunity to know some of the most heroic black men and let me tell you, their name was not O.J. Simpson,” Brown said.

Brown left the party in 1977 to raise her daughter, but she still works with the Huey P. Newton Foundation, an affiliation of the original party.