What do you think?
Rate this book
Panther: A Pictorial History of the Black Panthers and the Story Behind the Film
The most inclusive pictorial history of the Black Panther party, with more than 150 historical photos and drawings from personal archives. Taylor is chief his-torian of the African-American Studies department at Berkeley; Lewis, the first female Black Panther. 200 illustrations, 50 in color, chronology, bibliography, index.
192 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1995
37 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
June 25, 2024
A LAVISHLY-ILLUSTATED HISTORY OF THE BPP AND ITS LEADERS
This 1995 book explains, “Huey [Newton] wanted to ensure that black residents viewed their patrols as helpful to the community. He didn’t want people to see the Panthers as thuggish, gun-toting brothers without an organized agenda. He came up with the idea that all Panthers should wear a neat, polished uniform---black slacks, ironed powder-blue shirts, black tie or turtleneck, black leather sports jacket. Their signature black berets were a result of Huey and Bobby watching a movie about the resistance by the French underground to the Nazis. The French wore berets; they liked what they saw. So Panthers wore their berets, tilted to the right side. By the late 1960s the Panther uniform, especially the leather jackets and berets, became the ‘revolutionary’ fashion statement for many, many people.” (Pg. 28-29)
After Dr. King’s murders, Panthers “drove through black neighborhoods urging residents to be cool and attend their rally on April 7 at Defermery Park… the police were aware of the Oakland Panthers’ agenda to organize mournful black people into a crescendo of Panthers. The day before the rally, over fifty Oakland and Everyville police officers ambushed [eight Panthers]… The ninety-minute gun battle unleashed an estimated one thousand rounds of ammunition into the basement where [Eldridge] Cleaver and [Bobby] Hutton hid for cover. When the officers ordered them to ‘Throw out your weapons!’ several guns came flying out of windows. Cleaver and Hutton emerged from a basement flooded with tear gas and set on fire. Both Wells and Cleaver were wounded, and Hutton was killed ‘by a volley of pigs’ bullets s he surrendered with his hands above his head.’ At least six policemen shot Hutton in the back at point-blank range. Cleaver survived the attack because he had removed all of his clothes and walked out of the house with his hands above his head…. The Police arrested the seven surviving Panthers…. One black police officer present resigned from the force in disgust.” (Pg. 77-78)
The book notes, “In reality, the Panthers were not against ‘policing’ but they wanted the black community to be controlled by officers who lived among them. They believed that if a man lived in the community, he would know the people and not unjustly brutalize residents.” (Pg. 97)
It recounts, “The Party … hoped their programs would … demonstrate that the Party did so much with so little while the government did so little with so much… These programs also freed the Party from criticism that they had no legitimate activities. Aligning themselves with local churches, the Party introduced its Free Breakfast for Children Program (FBCP) in January 1969… The FBCP provided a free, hot, nutritionally-balanced breakfast for school-age children… The FBCP caught on like wildfire and all forty-five chapters were instructed to set up the program.” (Pg. 99-100)
It explains, “Panthers addressed the high rates of unemployment in the community by creating a Free Employment Program and Job Information Network. They set up an office, went into the community looking for jobs, and encouraged owners to create jobs when possible. Panthers obtained job listings form state and local government agencies and gave tips on how to maintain contact with a prospective employer. They believed that ‘everyone has the right to a job, not only to guarantee survival, but to give a decent standard of living.’ Party members also responded to requests by seniors for protection against muggings, especially when they want to cash their Social Security and pension checks. Seniors had gone to the Oakland police department for assistance, but their complaints felon deaf ears.” (Pg. 107)
They point out, “As early as November 1969, ‘The Black Panther’ [publication] warned schoolchildren about drugs sold on playgrounds… By this period, drug abuse had reached epidemic proportions in black communities. While drinking and smoking marijuana were acceptable ‘off duty,’ dope was prohibited. Junkies were not allowed in the Party office… But Panthers did not live in a vacuum. Some increased their use of highly expensive cocaine as they mingled with Hollywood celebrities. Once the Party purchased the Lamp Post nightclub, drugs were very present. Huey Newton’s addiction to cocaine and alcohol induced him to behave recklessly. More and more comrades came to mimic his gangster-like behavior.” (Pg. 120)
They conclude, “Huey Newton… would die [a] drug-related death… Bobby Seale became a teacher. David Hilliard, an author, is still politically active. Elaine Brown is still involved with the movement; she is an author and lives in France. Kathleen Cleaver is a lawyer, and Eldridge Cleaver, still as fiery as ever, resides in Oakland. Take six people, most of whom are from the hood, and if four or five of six make it, those are d__n good odds. Factor into the equation the physical trials and the psychological tribulations that these folks endured, and those are super odds.” (Pg. 146)
This book will be “must reading” for everyone who enjoyed the film, and for those wanting an excellent pictorial history of the Panthers.
This 1995 book explains, “Huey [Newton] wanted to ensure that black residents viewed their patrols as helpful to the community. He didn’t want people to see the Panthers as thuggish, gun-toting brothers without an organized agenda. He came up with the idea that all Panthers should wear a neat, polished uniform---black slacks, ironed powder-blue shirts, black tie or turtleneck, black leather sports jacket. Their signature black berets were a result of Huey and Bobby watching a movie about the resistance by the French underground to the Nazis. The French wore berets; they liked what they saw. So Panthers wore their berets, tilted to the right side. By the late 1960s the Panther uniform, especially the leather jackets and berets, became the ‘revolutionary’ fashion statement for many, many people.” (Pg. 28-29)
After Dr. King’s murders, Panthers “drove through black neighborhoods urging residents to be cool and attend their rally on April 7 at Defermery Park… the police were aware of the Oakland Panthers’ agenda to organize mournful black people into a crescendo of Panthers. The day before the rally, over fifty Oakland and Everyville police officers ambushed [eight Panthers]… The ninety-minute gun battle unleashed an estimated one thousand rounds of ammunition into the basement where [Eldridge] Cleaver and [Bobby] Hutton hid for cover. When the officers ordered them to ‘Throw out your weapons!’ several guns came flying out of windows. Cleaver and Hutton emerged from a basement flooded with tear gas and set on fire. Both Wells and Cleaver were wounded, and Hutton was killed ‘by a volley of pigs’ bullets s he surrendered with his hands above his head.’ At least six policemen shot Hutton in the back at point-blank range. Cleaver survived the attack because he had removed all of his clothes and walked out of the house with his hands above his head…. The Police arrested the seven surviving Panthers…. One black police officer present resigned from the force in disgust.” (Pg. 77-78)
The book notes, “In reality, the Panthers were not against ‘policing’ but they wanted the black community to be controlled by officers who lived among them. They believed that if a man lived in the community, he would know the people and not unjustly brutalize residents.” (Pg. 97)
It recounts, “The Party … hoped their programs would … demonstrate that the Party did so much with so little while the government did so little with so much… These programs also freed the Party from criticism that they had no legitimate activities. Aligning themselves with local churches, the Party introduced its Free Breakfast for Children Program (FBCP) in January 1969… The FBCP provided a free, hot, nutritionally-balanced breakfast for school-age children… The FBCP caught on like wildfire and all forty-five chapters were instructed to set up the program.” (Pg. 99-100)
It explains, “Panthers addressed the high rates of unemployment in the community by creating a Free Employment Program and Job Information Network. They set up an office, went into the community looking for jobs, and encouraged owners to create jobs when possible. Panthers obtained job listings form state and local government agencies and gave tips on how to maintain contact with a prospective employer. They believed that ‘everyone has the right to a job, not only to guarantee survival, but to give a decent standard of living.’ Party members also responded to requests by seniors for protection against muggings, especially when they want to cash their Social Security and pension checks. Seniors had gone to the Oakland police department for assistance, but their complaints felon deaf ears.” (Pg. 107)
They point out, “As early as November 1969, ‘The Black Panther’ [publication] warned schoolchildren about drugs sold on playgrounds… By this period, drug abuse had reached epidemic proportions in black communities. While drinking and smoking marijuana were acceptable ‘off duty,’ dope was prohibited. Junkies were not allowed in the Party office… But Panthers did not live in a vacuum. Some increased their use of highly expensive cocaine as they mingled with Hollywood celebrities. Once the Party purchased the Lamp Post nightclub, drugs were very present. Huey Newton’s addiction to cocaine and alcohol induced him to behave recklessly. More and more comrades came to mimic his gangster-like behavior.” (Pg. 120)
They conclude, “Huey Newton… would die [a] drug-related death… Bobby Seale became a teacher. David Hilliard, an author, is still politically active. Elaine Brown is still involved with the movement; she is an author and lives in France. Kathleen Cleaver is a lawyer, and Eldridge Cleaver, still as fiery as ever, resides in Oakland. Take six people, most of whom are from the hood, and if four or five of six make it, those are d__n good odds. Factor into the equation the physical trials and the psychological tribulations that these folks endured, and those are super odds.” (Pg. 146)
This book will be “must reading” for everyone who enjoyed the film, and for those wanting an excellent pictorial history of the Panthers.
Displaying 1 of 1 review