Josie Mpama/Palmer

While African National Congress narratives dominate much of the scholarship on South Africa’s freedom struggle, Josie Mpama/Palmer’s political life offers a different perspective. Highly critical of the patriarchal attitudes that hindered black women from actively participating in politics, Mpama/Palmer was an outspoken advocate for women’s social equality. and encouraged black women to become more involved in national conversations. Mpama/Palmer was the first black woman to join the Communist Party of South Africa, and spent a year in Moscow at the Lenin School. She was an integral figure in establishing the Federation of South African Women, an organization, and served as its Potchefstroom Branch Secretary. Mpama/Palmer’s activism and political legacy is an inspiring example for women in South Africa and around the world.

“For hooligans to shoot a Native is but to break a black bottle, and then congratulate themselves on being such good marksmen.” – Josie Mpama/Palmer, 1929; “Robert R. Edgar presents the remarkable life story of little-known South African activist Josie Mpama/Palmer in this fascinating biography.” Peter Alegi, author of African Soccerscapes

Robert R. Edgar is professor of African studies at Howard University and associate professor at Stellenbosch University. He is the author of The Finger of God: Enoch Mgijima, the Israelites, and the Bulhoek Massacre in South Africa.