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Joju Younghi Cleaver: The Private Life of the Daughter of Black Panther Activists

Joju Younghi Cleaver: The Private Life of the Daughter of Black Panther Activists

Updated on July 1st, 2025

Table of Contents

Introduction

Joju Younghi Cleaver was born in Pyongyang, North Korea, on July 31, 1970. She is the daughter of two important Black Panther Party members, Eldridge and Kathleen Cleaver. Joju has chosen a quieter, more private existence, even though she carries on the work of her parents as activists. She is an Instructional Design Specialist at Georgia State University and likes to keep out of the public limelight, even though her family was important in the civil rights struggle.

Early Life and Background

Joju was born while her parents were in North Korea as exiles because they were active in extreme activism. Her parents were connected to North Korean Juche ideology, which is why her name, “Joju,” means “worthy” and “Younghi,” means “idealistic.” The Black Panther Party had a big impact on Joju’s childhood and identity, and the Cleaver family’s history is closely connected to it.

Family Member	Role	Birth Date	Place of Birth	Significant Event
Joju Younghi Cleaver	Daughter	July 31, 1970	Pyongyang, North Korea	Born during parents’ exile in North Korea
Eldridge Cleaver	Father (Deceased)	August 31, 1935	Wabbaseka, Arkansas	Leader of Black Panther Party, author of Soul on Ice
Kathleen Cleaver	Mother	May 13, 1945	Dallas, Texas	Law professor, prominent Black Panther member

Education and Career

Joju Younghi Cleaver went to college after doing well in school. She went to Sarah Lawrence College and got a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts. Then she went to Purdue University and got a Master’s degree in Learning Design & Technology. Joju has worked in instructional design for a long time. Since 2017, she has been the Instructional Design Specialist at Georgia State University’s Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

Career Overview

Role	Organization	Years Active	Key Contributions
Instructional Design Specialist	Georgia State University	2017–Present	Focus on enhancing teaching and learning through instructional design
Instructional Designer	Hospitality Staffing Solutions	2016–2017	Worked on improving instructional materials and learning systems
Consultant	Freelance	2014–2017	Assisted with instructional design projects across various industries

Joju’s expertise in learning design has also been complemented by her seven years of K-12 teaching experience, making her a valuable asset in educational development.

Family Background and Legacy

Eldridge and Kathleen Cleaver, Joju’s parents, were important members of the Black Panther Party. Eldridge Cleaver wrote Soul on Ice and became a leader in the Party. He was a writer and activist. He also stood for president in 1968 as a member of the Peace and Freedom Party. Kathleen Cleaver, a law professor, was very important to the Black Panther Party’s communications. Because of their activities, the Cleaver family had to flee the country in the 1970s. During that time, Joju and her brother Ahmad Maceo Cleaver were born.

Eldridge Cleaver’s Legacy

Eldridge Cleaver is remembered as a leading figure in the Black Panther Party. His writings and his shift from radical activism to conservatism in later years sparked both admiration and controversy.

Eldridge Cleaver’s Key Roles	Date	Significant Contributions
Minister of Information	1960s–1970s	Major role in shaping Black Panther Party’s political vision
Author of Soul on Ice	1968	Seminal work in African American literature
Political Candidate	1968, 1986	Ran for President in 1968 and U.S. Senate in 1986

Kathleen Cleaver’s Contributions

As the Black Panther Party’s communications secretary, Kathleen Cleaver accomplished a lot of progress. She also kept working as a law professor and civil rights activist. She helped start the Black Panther Party’s International Branch and was a big part of making the Party more visible and helping it work with other countries.

Kathleen Cleaver’s Key Roles	Date	Significant Contributions
Communications Secretary	1960s–1970s	Led media and public relations for the Black Panther Party
Professor of Law	1989–Present	Taught at prestigious institutions like Emory University

Net Worth

There is no reliable information on Joju Younghi Cleaver’s net worth. The financial facts of her parents, Eldridge and Kathleen Cleaver, likewise lack proof, with numerous sources presenting contradicting or speculative estimates. Because the Cleaver family is more interested in activism and academics than making money, it’s doubtful that they have a lot of money.

Family Member	Net Worth (Estimated)	Notes
Joju Younghi Cleaver	Not available	Joju leads a private life, with no public net worth details
Eldridge Cleaver	$5M (Unverified)	Financial struggles in later years, unlikely to have large wealth
Kathleen Cleaver	Not available	Conflicting reports, unlikely to be significant

Recent Updates

Joju Younghi Cleaver still works at Georgia State University and stays mostly out of the public glare. There haven’t been any big news stories concerning her or her family members since 2023. Kathleen Cleaver is still a law professor, but Joju has opted to live a private life.

FAQ

Who is Joju Younghi Cleaver?

Joju Younghi Cleaver is the daughter of Eldridge and Kathleen Cleaver, both prominent members of the Black Panther Party. She works as an Instructional Design Specialist at Georgia State University.

What is Joju Younghi Cleaver’s educational background?

Joju holds a Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts from Sarah Lawrence College and a Master’s in Learning Design & Technology from Purdue University.

What does Joju Younghi Cleaver do for work?

Joju works as an Instructional Design Specialist at Georgia State University’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning since 2017.

Who are Joju Younghi Cleaver’s parents?

Her father, Eldridge Cleaver, was a writer and Black Panther leader, while her mother, Kathleen Cleaver, is a law professor and civil rights activist.