Elbert Howard (Big Man) — American activist and Black Panther Party co‑founder

Elbert Howard (January 5, 1938 – July 23, 2018), widely known by his nickname Big Man, was an American civil rights activist and author who helped establish the Black Panther movement. He is remembered as one of the early organizers who shaped the party's public work and community programs during its formative years.

Howard was among the group that founded the Black Panther Party in Oakland, California in the mid-1960s alongside figures who sought new approaches to racial justice and community self-defense. As an early member he contributed to organizing, outreach, and day-to-day operations, helping the party build neighborhood programs that addressed immediate community needs while advancing a broader political agenda.

During the party's active period, members set up several high-profile community initiatives — including free breakfast programs for children, health clinics and educational efforts — that aimed to provide services and build local leadership. These efforts were part of a strategy that combined direct service with political education and public protest. Howard later wrote about his experiences and perspectives as an author, placing his life in the context of the era's social movements.

After leaving the party in 1974, Howard returned to Tennessee and settled in Memphis. There he shifted toward educational and civic work, serving on boards and supporting African American progressive educational institutions. His post-party activities emphasized community development and the strengthening of local institutions as a way to continue the goals he had pursued earlier in his life.