Lincoln Cushing, September 6, 2026

News item about the passing of feminist activist Robin Morgan:
"Morgan is the one who came up with the most iconic symbol of the women’s liberation movement of the late-1960s and 1970s, the single image most often associated with 'radical feminism.' The symbol combines the astrological symbol for Venus, representing the feminine, or woman, and the raised fist, denoting power, militancy and radicalism, and most often associated with the Black Power movement."

Actually, it turns out that there were several different versions of this graphic concept that all emerged in 1969 and 1970. Here is a brief look at those graphics. Research is in progress, corrections and additions welcome.

1. Equal sign inside basic symbol, described by Jo Freeman as being designed by Cindy Cisler for the First Congress to Unite Women in New York City in November 1969. Two versions shown, the second for NOW from 1973.

2. Equal sign added to bottom. Two 1970 examples, Women's strike day poster August 26 at Lytton Plaza [Palo Alto] and December Bay Area NOW newsletter small horizontal logo.

3. Fist inside basic symbol. September 1969 by Robin Morgan for the second Miss America Pageant demonstration. Two were produced for the November 22, 1969 Free Our Sisters demonstrations in New Haven, Connecticut supporting six Black Panther women, accompanied by the Black Panther logo. V1, V2. And Morgan's graphic got an update for her 1970 book Sisterhood is Powerful.