Showdown in Desire: The Black Panthers Take a Stand in New Orleans by Orissa Arend

by Orissa Arend

Showdown in Desire portrays the Black Panther Party in New Orleans in 1970, a year that included a shootout with the police on Piety Street, the creation of survival programs, and the daylong standoff between the Panthers and the police in the Desire housing development. Through interviews withMalik Rahim, the Panther; Robert H. King, Panther and member of the Angola 3; Larry Preston Williams, the black policeman; Moon Landrieu, the mayor; Henry Faggen, the Desire resident; Robert Glass, the white lawyer; Jerome LeDoux, the black priest; William Barnwell, the white priest; and many others, Orissa Arend tells a nuanced story that unfolds amid guns, tear gas, desperate poverty, oppression, and inflammatory rhetoric tocapture the palpable spirit of rebellion, resistance, and revolution of an incendiary summer in New Orleans.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published July 1, 2003

Reviews

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Author did a fantastic job researching the events of the Desire assault. Many of the records collected after the event were biased (and many lost after Katrina) and she went beyond to collect first hand accounts of those who were there on both sides. She interviews Black Panther Party members, the mayor at the time, the police chief, the local clergy who was involved with the free breakfast program and even undercover officers. She took her time researching who was an eye witness to the events.

This book really tells the whole story of why it happened in New Orleans and why it happened specifically in the Desire projects.

One of my favorite parts of the book is when Malik Rahim and his partner created a community health care center in the wake of Katrina. He saw a need for medical care and the New Orleans residents being brushed aside yet again. Although the New Orleans Black Panther Party may not be around any longer, Rahim truly embodies the party's values and mission statement. I bring this part up specifically because it would have been very easy for the author to slap together a book of the incident but she really makes sure that you understand each person's role, motivation and their life before/after the shootout.

[Dede Before · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely well written piece!

Review coming shortly.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent history, relevant to our times.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

The topic is specific enough that I am grateful for its having been written. I appreciate the work done to put the Black Panther Party in context and to present them as they were (or at least I have no reason to doubt this presentation is 'how they were') in New Orleans. I haven't read any other account of the Angola 3 that was so complete. Unfortunately, the superfluous accounts and asides make this feel like you were cornered by someone else's great aunt at a random house party: you know there's a great story in there, you just wish she hadn't drank so much wine before trying to tell it.

[Aolund · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an extremely informative book, but is somewhat inexpertly written. While I deeply appreciate the reliance on first person accounts and anecdotes, the book could simply be better organized and edited to a more concise version. I read about half of the book and then put it down; perhaps I will finish it at some point in the future, but for the time my attention is exhausted by the writing style.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

With all the racial and political turmoil surrounding the Black Panthers, its a wonder that their story is so brief and peaceful in New Orleans. Heck, then again, as author Orissa Arend mentions, New Orleans is a place for R & R, not revolution!

[Lindseybwhims · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting! I learned a lot from this book, and it connected many dots as I continue to dive into social theory & social justice history here in Nola.