We The People Mug

Ceramic
11 oz mug dimensions: 3.85″ × 3.35″
Hand-wash only

M. Gayle Dickson, known artistically as Asali, was the sole woman in the Graphic Arts Department of the Black Panther Party's Intercommunal News Service, led by Emory Douglas, from 1972 to 1974. Many of her illustrations highlighted themes of women, elders, and children, reflecting the Party’s commitment to uplifting the most vulnerable members of society.

This era coincided with the “Oakland: A Base of Operation” campaign, where the Black Panther Party, continuing the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement, ran Bobby Seale for Mayor of Oakland and Elaine Brown for City Council. As part of this effort, the Party registered 10,000 Oakland residents to vote, distributed an equal number of free grocery bags (each with a chicken), and supported progressive candidates like Shirley Chisholm for President and the re-election of Ron Dellums to Congress.

The Black Panther Party’s broader Survival Pending Revolution campaign also took root at this time, addressing the immediate needs of Black communities while pursuing long-term revolutionary change. Programs like free breakfast for children, health clinics, education initiatives, and community self-defense underscored their mission to foster self-sufficiency and resist systemic oppression.

100% of the net proceeds from the Survival Pending Revolution Collection will be donated to Asali Caring Circle, supporting Gayle Dickson’s ongoing work and helping ensure her safety.

About the Art:  

Originally titled "Now We The People Are Demanding A Change," this 11x17 ink wash, pen and ink, photo collage, and photo cutout appeared on the back page of the July 15, 1972, issue of the Black Panther Intercommunal News Service.

The artwork features a portrait of a woman in the foreground, her hair set in rollers. Behind her is a collage of people—young, old, and middle-aged—carrying bags of groceries, each marked with "Free Food Program." The woman wears two buttons on her blouse: one for Bobby Seale for Mayor and another for Elaine Brown for City Council. In the distant background, rays of sunlight stretch toward the foreground, symbolizing hope and the collective demand for change.