Elaine Brown is a prominent African American activist. She was Chairman and Minister of Defense of the Black Panther Party for several years toward the end of the party's existence, from 1974-1977. She took control of the party following the exile of Huey P. Newton, who was wanted by US police on numerous felony counts.

In the 1997 book Radical Son, former Black Panther supporter and close Brown associate, David Horowitz, claimed that Brown was responsible for the violent murder of a Panther aide by the name of Betty Van Patter. No one was ever formally charged in the murder and the case remains officially unsolved.

She has gone on to write two books:

• A Taste of Power , 1992
• The Condemnation of Little B , 2002.

She has also released two albums on Motown Records and recorded many songs for the Black Panther Party.