Black Against Empire Audiobook By Joshua Bloom, Waldo E. Martin Jr. cover art

Black Against Empire

The History and Politics of the Black Panther Party

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Black Against Empire

By: Joshua Bloom, Waldo E. Martin Jr.
Narrated by: Ron Butler
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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 African American Studies Americas Black & African American History & Theory Political Science Politics & Government Racism & Discrimination Social Sciences Specific Demographics United States Superhero Fantasy Discrimination Civil rights Social justice Equality Thought-Provoking Social movement Socialism Africa

Critic reviews

"A prodigiously researched work, utilizing academic literature, personal memoir, and conversations with former Black Panther members and associates...." ( Publishers Weekly)
Comprehensive History • Well-researched Content • Excellent Narration • Informative Perspective • Objective Account
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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.

Factual history behind the rise & fall of the BPP

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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.

Most informative

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

Insightful!

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

Very Informative

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

Oh, Baby...

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The fact that anytime black people are thriving and have a voice we are a threat to the world. We literally just mind our business and whites do not like it at all.

Long live King Huey & King Fred along with all my other people who lost their lives to the battle.

Life changing

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This history of the Black Panthers is so informative; I've learned so much. The were active when I was a kid growing up in Boston so I certainly knew of them along with the Students for a Democratic Society. I saw protests against the Vietnam War, civil unrest, race riots and more on the news. There were riots in Boston even. I understood many of the reasons, but this history gave me a broader understanding of how the Black Panthers came to be, what law enforcement and the government did to try to break them down, and why the organization ended.

I listened to this for Black History Month, but you can read or listen to this at any time. I recommend that you do, whether you know nothing or you know a lot about them. The narration is excellent which is important when there are so many names, dates, and activities.

Amazing history of which I knew little

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This information should be in every American history textbook. Particularly poignant in a post 2020 America

Vital information

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Black against empire provides readers with a primer into the politics, context, evolution and ultimate collapse of the party. It's use of primary sources like the BPP publication and writings from prominent activists paints a detailed picture without getting caught in the weeds.

Scholarly but not stuffy

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This was so very well researched and thorough! I am so glad that I selected this title to enhance my knowledge on this subject. I learned so much! Thank you to the authors and the narrator as well! Extremely well done!!

Deep dive!!

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