Nine Lives of a Black Panther: A Story of Survival

by Wayne Pharr

In the early morning hours of December 8, 1969, three hundred officers of the newly created elite paramilitary tactical unit known as SWAT initiated a violent battle with a handful of Los Angeles–based members of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPP). Five hours and five thousand rounds of ammunition later, three SWAT team members and three Black Panthers lay wounded. From a tactical standpoint, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) considered the encounter a disaster. For the Panthers and the community that supported them, the shootout symbolized a victory. A key contributor to that victory was the nineteen-year-old rank-and-file member of the BPP Wayne Pharr.             Nine Lives of a Black Panther tells Wayne’s riveting story of the Los Angeles branch of the BPP and gives a blow-by-blow account of how it prepared for and survived the massive military-style attack. Because of his dedication to the black liberation struggle, Wayne was hunted, beaten, and almost killed by the LAPD in four separate events. Here he reveals how the branch survived attacks such as these, and also why BPP cofounder Huey P. Newton expelled the entire Southern California chapter and deemed it “too dangerous to remain a part of the national organization.”             The Los Angeles branch was the proving ground for some of the most beloved and colorful characters in Panther lore, including Bunchy Carter, Masai Hewitt, Geronimo “ji-Jaga” Pratt, and Elaine Brown. Nine Lives fills in a missing piece of Black Panther history, while making clear why black Los Angeles was home to two of the most devastating riots in the history of urban America. But it also eloquently relates one man’s triumph over police terror, internal warfare, and personal demons. It will doubtless soon take its place among the classics of black militant literature.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, African American, History

320 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2014

Reviews

[Dannica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting read. I don't know much about the Black Panthers so reading a memoir by one opened my eyes in a number of ways.

[Yasmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm glad there I this first hand account of what it meant to be a Black Panther and a very personal look at the times of the past and even the times of the present for Black people of America. It is a very honest account of Wayne Pharr's life. It is truly incredible that indeed he came through that period as little scarred as he did. He doesn't seek to boast his achievements other than in a humble way. Nor at the end does he fail to recognise the parallels of his youth and the Black Panthers rise and struggle with and against the inferno that was striking through countless cities and towns in America that took countless more lives than what is happening right at this moment in America. Wayne Pharr puts across clearly how horrendously the Black Panthers were treated by the police, identically with how the police are treating Black people right now, how thoroughly abused they were by the so called justice system and how brutalised a people were that were not even in with the Black Panthers, little children were the victims of terrorists calling themselves the police. Ugly times that have not been left to the pages of history. This is remarkable book of a remarkable man's efforts and the efforts of his fellow Black Panthers against tremendous odds to bring about strength and determination to their communities. Many of the events in this book is chilling to the bone, however, it must be read and it must be known.

[Chantelle White · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's refreshing to read empowering books on the basis of African American history especially in a society whose history books & many movies mainly acknowledges our enslavement.

My favorite quote from the book:
“I know that sometimes you’ve got to be ready to fight. It is better to battle and lose than to run away while telling yourself you’ve won.”

Excerpt From: Wayne, Pharr. “Nine Lives of a Black Panther.” Chicago Review Press, 2014. iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.

[Komi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The climatic nature of this book should make everyone want to read it. Never in my life could I have imagined the amount of police brutality an organization fighting for change could endure.

Wayne Pharr, the author and member of the Black Panther Party, takes us on a journey that showcases his life and the life of the members fighting for black and minority liberation. Wayne Pharr grew up during a time of racism; racism that should have declined after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but didn't. Growing up Wayne experienced racism first hand, especially at school during his junior high years. So as he grew up and started becoming more aware of the problems facing blacks in America through activists such as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. it only made since for him to join a group he agreed with in terms of ideology. The Black Panther Party (BPP) was founded by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale to fight for black people's freedom. The BPP believed arming themselves was the necessary course of action to take in the pursuit of liberation. Their belief in carrying guns openly caused the LAPD to create the first ever SWAT team and for the FBI, led by J. Edgar Hoover, to form an organization specialized in destroying them even though the BPP did nothing wrong and were experiencing their constitutional rights. The BPP provided free medical care, food for the children, educated the black masses about politics, and found ways to help the black communities. The one difference between BPP and some other black nationalist groups was the fact that the wanted to work with people of all races. They were not racist or a threat to national security like Hoover had stated. The US organization was the racist one. The US, black nationalist group, organization was a failure and detrimental part of the black liberation fight. During the early years of both parties the US would harass blacks and attack black panther members because the wouldn't do as they said. The death of the BPP member Bunchy was a result of their idiotic decisions. Throughout the book you see that the police would constantly harass the BPP and do raids that led to many deaths and arrests. The LAPD and the FBI government systematically ruined the members. It's a shame hearing about the brutality that occurred. The brutality eventually led to the disruption of the party. Members were either arrested, or dead. And After Huey Newton came out, things got even worse. His leadership was terrible because he was on drugs. Drugs, which I believe to have been flocked into these communities by the USA government. Huey made changes that led to the division of the party. Eventually the party died out.

The USA government is crooked. The war on drugs is a guise to get rid of blacks. READ THIS BOOK.


Wayne Pharr faced many challenges throughout his life. But he beat it all. It's pretty inspirational. This book is about him, but it is also about the injustices faced by the Black Panther Party.

[African Americans on the Move Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wayne Pharr has put together an outstanding novel depicting the historical events of the Black Panther Party as well as telling his story of survival during the time. This book revealed an insider’s guide to all the events as they unfolded back in 1969 and into the 1970’s. I found his masterpiece to be interesting and intriguing. I love history especially when told be a person who was a major part it. Nine Lives of a Black Panther, gave me a glimpses of what Wayne Pharr’s and his other member’s lives were like during these moments. Some chapters also gave me a deep understanding into what the Black Panther Party was really about. It wasn’t about the violence but for standing up and defending their black community’s rights. Back then their communities were still struggling with having full rights like the whites. There were other parts I found that I didn’t know about without having read this story. Wayne Pharr’s group did free breakfasts for children. That showed me that their group wasn’t about violence as Wayne Pharr himself would say. Readers will find this piece unique and a very important part of history as well. I highly recommend readers to pick this novel up. There are some things you discover when reading from an insider’s perspective that you do not learn from anywhere else.

Danielle Urban
AAMBC Reviewer

[Greg Swallow · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read by an ex-Panther. The first was "Die Nigger Die!" by H. Rap Brown. Maybe I read H. Rap Brown's book at a more impressionable age (in high school). Maybe H. Rap Brown was just more confrontational than Wayne Pharr was, so his narrative was more striking. It's been a few years (ok, 20) but I recall a lot more piss and vinegar in the former book, and a lot more timely, focused rage directed at the state that felt spot on. Maybe H. Rap Brown was just a better writer? Either way, while this memoir was an interesting read -- certainly not a waste of time -- it lacked "wow" factor, like I'd expect from reading anything written by an ex-Panther. It's quickly consumable; probably a two day job at most for an avid reader, so go for it.

Now that I think about it, I want to find another copy of "Die Nigger Die!" and read it again :)

[Donald Hooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black And proud...

Because of all that you and your comrades experienced. Thanks for sharing your experiences, told so eloquently. I am from Sacramento Mr. Part and we are about the same age, I remember most of the BBP history as it happened and what a great sense of pride we felt because of yours and others sacrifice. Thanks for filling in some grey areas of history with your truth. Outstanding piece of work. Five Stars !!!

[Paige Goodman Wolven · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written kind of conversationally, so it wasn't super excellent in a literary sense but I couldn't put it down because it is so fascinating. Also, I feel very white now that I've read it.

[Karrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty good and interesting to read about the LA Chapter and the split with Huey. so sad that people in power decided they must be eliminated. would of been interesting to see where the party could have gone.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Nine Lives of a Black Panther, though its terrible to think the police in America are just as brutal now as they were then. In fact I think police enforcements the world over are basically armed thugs and nothing more.

[Jack Sonntag · Rating 2 out of 5]

eh! There were some interesting insights into what the party was doing for the good, and what was clearly criminal; but WAY TOO many personal, pointless details and inane dialog.

[joreadsthings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. Kept my attention the whole time.