Black Against Empire

The History and Politics of the Black Panther Party

By: Joshua Bloom, Waldo E. Martin Jr.

Narrated by: Ron Butler

In Oakland, California, in 1966, community college students Bobby Seale and Huey Newton armed themselves, began patrolling the police, and promised to prevent police brutality. Unlike the Civil Rights Movement that called for full citizenship rights for blacks within the US, the Black Panther Party rejected the legitimacy of the US government and positioned itself as part of a global struggle against American imperialism. In the face of intense repression, the Party flourished, becoming the center of a revolutionary movement with powerful allies around the world.

Black Against Empire is the first comprehensive overview and analysis of the history and politics of the Black Panther Party. The authors analyze key political questions, such as why so many young black people across the country risked their lives for the revolution, why the Party grew most rapidly during the height of repression, and why allies abandoned the Party at its peak of influence.

Bold, engrossing, and richly detailed, this book cuts through the mythology and obfuscation, revealing the political dynamics that drove the explosive growth of this revolutionary movement and its disastrous unraveling.

©2013 Joshua Bloom and Waldo E. Martin, Jr. (P)2016 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A prodigiously researched work, utilizing academic literature, personal memoir, and conversations with former Black Panther members and associates...." ( Publishers Weekly)

Factual history behind the rise & fall of the BPP

Over the years I have heard various stories regarding the Black Panther Party. Some positive...most negative. I wanted a clear unadulterated history and this book provides that! Starting with the foundation of the movement, rise within the Black community, allies and enemies. Also how the party fell apart unfortunately. I now have a greater understanding and appreciate for their place in our Black story.

Most informative

This is one of the best historical accounts of the Black Panther Party that seeks to analyze the movement from a neutral perspective. Anyone who is a fan of historical literature will appreciate the work that went into this book. It unveils the good, the bad, and the ugly around the movement and it’s protractors.

Insightful!

Great content explaining the origin of various strategies, concepts and key leaders in the party.

Very Informative

Excellent read! Tears down misconceptions about 'The Black Panther Party for Self Defense' and informs us as to how and why such misconceptions existed.

Oh, Baby...

Burn baby burn. In boot camp during Woodstock and the moon landing, we loved these guys, and the journalists.

amazing book about the black Panthers

this book is the most thorough and objective account of the black Panthers I have read. it provides great historical context for the formation of the black panther party and highlights what made the BPP unique in us civil rights history. the book is long book interesting throughout and address the numerous myths about the black Panthers.

History lesson

An interesting read since this took place during my youth and I never really understood the historical significance of the Black Panther movement. It offers an insight into how movements start, develop, and can eventually die because of personal and political circumstances. I suggest this book for it's historical perspective on revolutionary groups and why they develop and thrive or do not thrive.

5 Stars

Excellent overview of the Panthers' history and struggles, with crisp and clear narration throughout. Enjoyed the later discussion on the Panthers' eventual split into social-democratic and insurrectionary wings. A must-listen for anyone interested in the Panthers or late-60s Civil Rights protests.

great history

I wish there was a new Black Panther party or revolutionary vanguard. Too bad this vountry is slipping the other way, into white supremacist fascism. This story inspires me to keep up the energy and fight.

Excellent!! Who Knew??

Of course one knows about the Black Panthers, but does one “really” know about the Black Panthers? Their influences, their alliances and the many influences as the Civil Rights Movement gave way to the Black Power Movement.

This book does an excellent job of telling their story from rise to fall. Perhaps the only shortcoming is the failure to effectively tie in the utilization of drugs to the destruction of their effectiveness. I don’t want to suggest that it was the only reason, but another reason & was totally excluded from consideration.

In any event the lessons are many & the ask in the conclusion as to why no similar insurgency type organization exists today, is just as cogent of an ask, as any in the book. Well done! BTW, the animated story telling is the best that I’ve heard, to-date & this was about my 5th audible.