The Morning Breaks: The Trial of Angela Davis

by Bettina Aptheker

On August 7, 1970, a revolt by Black prisoners in a Marin County courthouse stunned the nation. In its aftermath, Angela Davis, an African American activist-scholar who had campaigned vigorously for prisoners' rights, was placed on the FBI's "ten most wanted list." Captured in New York City two months later, she was charged with murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy. Her trial, chronicled in this "compelling tale" (Publishers Weekly), brought strong public indictment. The Morning Breaks is a riveting firsthand account of Davis's ordeal and her ultimate triumph, written by an activist in the student, civil rights, and antiwar movements who was intimately involved in the struggle for her release. First published in 1975, and praised by The Nation for its "graphic narrative of [Davis's] legal and public fight," The Morning Breaks remains relevant today as the nation contends with the political fallout of the Sixties and the grim consequences of institutional racism. For this edition, Bettina Aptheker has provided an introduction that revisits crucial events of the late 1960s and early 1970s and puts Davis's case into the context of that time and our own―from the killings at Kent State and Jackson State to the politics of the prison system today. This book gives a first-hand account of the worldwide movement for Angela Davis's freedom and of her trial. It offers a unique historical perspective on the case and its continuing significance in the contemporary political landscape.

Genres: History, African American, Race, Nonfiction, Biography, Feminism, Law

328 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told by a close friend of Ms Davis with great detail of not only Angela's trials but also the police and prison brutality that continues to this day. As told by Aptheker, the bias in the judicial system looks both bold and unvarnished.

[Rogers Pittman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.

Shows how far the government will go to silence those that are fed up and fighting for a more humane America

[Heavinlei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angela Davis is forever my hero. She is truly an inspirational human being. This book really touched on her trial through her closest friends and attorneys.

[vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting, thought-provoking, and masterfully written. Learning about the Angela Davis trial is made even easier by this book considering it captivates you from the first page. I could read fifty pages at a time and feel ready for fifty more. It was not bogged down by as much law as I expected when I first picked it up for a paper I was writing; instead it relies more on emotion. Truly a powerful piece that I highly recommend.
Free Angela Davis and all political prisoners.

[Migg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting piece of history. I read this book after reading "12 years a slave". A very detailed account of Angela Davis. I learned a great deal about the persecution the black community has been subjected to. It started with slavery and this story is not finished yet as Mrs Bettina Aptheker concludes; It;s a work in progress and as minority member myself I can vouch for that. The end will be the day of total freedom.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want more detail after you read Angela's autobiography... an account of a political trial, American style