Rating: 
Summary: Critical History of the Black Panthers
Review: This book offers a look inside the rise and fall of Huey Newton and the Black Panther Party in Oakland from the 60's to the 80's. Nelson has spoken to many of the participants and assembled what appears to be a well-balanced overview of the promise and problems of the Party. His essential argument is that the Party began as a criminal enterprise with revolutionary trappings and was eventually consumed by it's own criminality. The book was apparently somewhat controversial because this, of course, contradicts the standard view that the Panthers began as a worthy endeavor but was tragically destroyed by increasing criminal activity and mismanagement and illegal government meddling. Despite some awkward prose, this is an excellent look at the turn from non-violence to violence in the Black Community in the mid-60's. GRADE: B
Rating:
Summary: commendable
Review: This book offers a look inside the rise and fall of Huey Newton and the Black Panther Party in Oakland from the 60's to the 80's. Nelson has spoken to many of the participants and assembled what appears to be a well-balanced overview of the promise and problems of the Party. His essential argument is that the Party began as a criminal enterprise with revolutionary trappings and was eventually consumed by it's own criminality. The book was apparently somewhat controversial because this, of course, contradicts the standard view that the Panthers began as a worthy endeavor but was tragically destroyed by increasing criminal activity and mismanagement and illegal government meddling. Despite some awkward prose, this is an excellent look at the turn from non-violence to violence in the Black Community in the mid-60's. GRADE: B
Rating:
Summary: very interesting book
Review: this book tells many different sides of the panthers good&bad.but even though the way it is written may sway you one way or the other the panthers were very important to the world at large.i do feel that Huey Newton could have been a real bigger force if headed that way.the minds of the Men&women in the Panther party are incredible.many of them have gone on to contribute alot to this country.but if done right they would have been a political party unto themselves.with all the party's getting in to politics this would have been a true challenge.i see the bigger picture of what might have been.this book leaves room for many different thoughts.
Rating:
Summary: The best ever on the Panthers
Review: This is an excellent book that occupies an important niche not found in most of the autobiographies of those involved in the Black Panther movement - namely objectivity. It is always refreshing to see an author present an honest, unbiased account of a controversial issue. This is a book very much worth reading. I have only two problems with what Pearson has written. The first is that bare mention is made of the murder of Alex Rackley. (Pearson does note that his book was not intended to be comprehensive). The second issue that I have with the author concerns his assumption that Geronimo Pratt's time in prison was "unjustified" (Pratt was still serving time when the book was first published). Although it is true that the main witness against Pratt was an informant, it is also true that Pratt's car and handgun were used in the assault that killed the Santa Monica school teacher - and that Pratt was identified as the shooter by the victim's husband, who was wounded in the attack. Pratt was released from prison on a technicality. That does not mean that he is innocent. Although I had read other accounts of the Black Panthers over the years, none had left me with such a strong impression of the wasted potential of Huey Newton's life. Pearson does a terrific job in giving the reader some sense of what wonderful things the movement and the man were capable of accomplishing.
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