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Black History Year

How Chaka Khan Went From a Young Organizer to an International Superstar

Black History Year

PushBlack

History

4.62.2K Ratings

🗓️ 20 February 2024

⏱️ 2 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In the late 60s, you could have seen a young Chaka Khan handing out Black Panther newsletters. She was a teenager when her stepmother got her into the Black radical group -- and it changed, her, and her eventual superstar music career, forever.






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2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Black history you didn't learn in school. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at BlackHistoryYear.com — most people donate $10 a month, but every dollar makes a difference. If this episode moved you, share it with your people! Thanks for supporting the work.


The production team for this podcast includes Cydney Smith, Len Webb, and Lilly Workneh. Our editors are Lance John and Avery Phillips from Gifted Sounds Network. Julian Walker serves as executive producer."

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

In the late 60s you could have seen a young Shaka Khan barefoot in Chicago

0:08.1

handing out Black Panther newsletters. She was a teenager when her stepmother got her into the Black Radical Group and it changed

0:16.1

her and her eventual superstar music career forever.

0:20.8

This is Two Minute Black History. what you didn't learn in school.

0:25.0

When she got older, Shkakhan took on more responsibility. Early mornings in her

0:36.2

windy city, she would help run the free breakfast program. Shakakan was serving her her community keeping them strong.

0:44.0

Once she was hanging out with her college friends when a police officer arrived and began to harass them.

0:50.0

They jumped him and Shaka even took his gun.

0:53.5

She was a child of the Panthers.

0:55.4

The pigs did not scare her. Even after Shaka Khan became the Queen of Funk that we know today, she still continued her activism.

1:15.7

In 1999, she opened up the Shaka Khan Foundation, which helps women and children dealing

1:21.2

with poverty and also helps spread awareness about autism in communities of color.

1:27.0

It didn't matter what stage of life it was.

1:30.0

Shaka Khan found a way to stand up for her people and stand up for what she believed in.

1:35.9

She is a glowing example that you can have it all and still center your community.

1:42.2

In order to move towards the future, you've got to look to the past.

1:46.3

This has been 2-minute black history, a podcast by Push Black.

1:50.3

If you enjoyed this episode and want to show your support,

1:52.8

please rate and subscribe to our podcast.

1:55.6

Together, let's celebrate and honor the legacy of Black History. You're going to.

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