Florynce Kennedy

From Philosopedia

Kennedy, Florynce (11 February 1916 - 21 December 2000)

Kennedy is an African American freethinker and atheist whose television programs frequently supported liberal causes, including women’s rights to have abortions.

In 1971 she founded the Feminist Party that nominated African American Shirley Chisholm for President.

A lesbian and lawyer, she represented H. Rap Brown and the Black Panthers.

She often spoke at places with Gloria Steinem and, when asked if the two were lesbians, would answer, "Are you my alternative?"

Kennedy wrote Abortion Rap, in which she mentioned that "If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament." Her autobiography is Color Me Flo: My Hard Life and Good Times (1976).

People (1974) described Kennedy as being "the biggest, loudest and, indisputably, the rudest mouth on the battleground."

(See Jennifer Otto's 1999 biographical materia]; see entry for Bill Baird; and see memories of Kennedy by Marsha Joyner.