Patrisse Cullors, one of the co-founders of the Black Lives Matter movement, grew up in Van Nuys, California. She was born in 1984 to Cherisse Foley, a single mother, and Gabriel Brignac, who was incarcerated for most of Cullors’ childhood.
Early life and education
Cullors’ childhood was marked by poverty and violence. She lived in a Section 8 apartment and witnessed her brothers being slammed into a wall by police when she was 9 years old. She was also arrested for smoking marijuana at the age of 12.
Despite the challenges she faced, Cullors was a bright student. She attended Grover Cleveland High School in Reseda, California, where she was involved in the school’s theater program. She also participated in the Bus Riders Union, a civil rights organization that fought for better bus service for low-income riders.
Activism and activism
After graduating from high school, Cullors attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where she studied religion and philosophy. She continued her activism at UCLA, joining the Black Student Union and the Los Angeles Community Action Network.
After graduating from UCLA, Cullors worked as a community organizer in South Los Angeles. In 2006, she co-founded Dignity and Power Now, an organization that works to end police brutality and mass incarceration.
In 2013, Cullors co-founded Black Lives Matter, a movement that has grown into a global force for change. Black Lives Matter has organized protests against police brutality and racial injustice, and has helped to raise awareness of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Conclusion
Patrisse Cullors is a powerful voice for social justice. She has used her experiences to fight for the rights of Black people and other marginalized communities. She is an inspiration to many, and her work has made a real difference in the world.
