Soul on Fire

by Eldridge Cleaver

Playing off of the title of his most famous book, Soul on Ice, Cleaver published Soul on Fire in 1978. Cleaver reveales aspects of his exile in Algeria.

Genres: Biography, Politics, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Leroy Eldridge Cleaver, better known as Eldridge Cleaver, was a writer and political activist who became an early leader of the Black Panther Party.

In 1958 he was put in jail for rape. There he was given a copy of The Communist Manifesto. When he got released he joined the Black Panther Party. He then joined the Oakland-based Black Panther Party, serving as Minister of Information, or spokesperson.

His book Soul On Ice is a collection of essays. In the most controversial part of the book, Cleaver acknowledges committing acts of rape, stating that he initially raped black women in the ghetto "for practice" and then embarked on the serial rape of white women. He described these crimes as politically inspired.

Later in life he converted to Mormonism.

Reviews

[Calvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought this was a great follow up to Soul on Ice. Had a Christian theme throughout this book and is sort of a redemption story. While it did not go into the Panthers as much as Soul on Ice, it focused more on his travels and his outlook on life as well as people he had befriended on his journey.

[Jabali Sawicki]

Big up to the Black book-vendors at the Ashby flea market who've provided me with a great syllabus over the years. Not as powerful as Soul on Ice, but still a good read. Can't believe I slept on it for 18 years.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cleaver continues to interest intrigue me. It would be easy for me to simply label him a political chameleon, a lackadaisical wanderer, a petulant opportunist. In fact, if I trusted this autobiography, I might be tempted to do so. But this book rings false. After the complexity of Soul on Ice, this feels like Eldridge Cleaver abridged. I plan on doing more digging to see the facets of this man that weren't cataloged in his brief pages on Algeria, France, and Christianity. There's more to be learned here...

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Librarians here need to fix this entry. SOUL ON FIRE is a completely different book by Cleaver, and is not a repackaging of SOUL ON ICE. It was first published in 1978 by Word Books out of Waco, Texas. The ISBN is 0849900468.

[Robert Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this one at least doesn’t include framing the S.A. of women as an act of political revolution. I did like this book, especially for its biographical components and Cleaver’s experience with the Black Panthers and how the police and government waged a racist war against the black ghettoes.

The first third of the book concerns his early life and his history with the panthers, frankly, I think this is the best part of the book. Of course, this is where his criminal history begins as well although the book quickly glances over his crimes though he does name them. The second third of the story, which comprises most of the book, concerns his fugitive status as he flees the U.S. for legal reasons and justified political concerns as he toured the world especially communist countries. This part of the book is interesting in that he has a political awakening realizing that not all “revolutionary” politics are good or even different from establishment politics. Then he suddenly breaks down and comes to God. Now, when it comes to religion, I’m an atheist, all religion is to me an archaic power structure, mythology, and collections of allegory & parable. However, I do see the importance of spirituality.

The last, and most brief part of the book, is his conversion to Christianity and his surrender to U.S. authorities due to some serious homesickness. His spiritual journey in the book is very quick and much less interesting than his political one according to this book. I am always interested in personal journeys even spiritual ones but here, the road to god was just so sudden and occurred wholly after a sudden emotional breakdown. His surrender to authorities was presented as driven by severe homesickness and exile-born depression as well as a mode of his seeking redemption. Overall, however, I did enjoy this book possibly more than its predecessor. There are passages here that are equally relevant today as they were when this book was written.

Passages like: “Ever since the Watts uprising of 1965, in which scores of black people had been killed, a rising tide had been growing against what had every appearance of the indiscriminate killing of citizens by the police. Everyone talked about it but no one was doing anything about it.” still have relevancy and power today for very obvious reasons.

Would I recommend this book? Yes, more than its forebear (Soul on Ice), it was an interesting read.

[Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sequel to Soul On Ice, Soul on Fire is the journey of a man who frantically searched the world for a solution to a probing problem. This problem, if solved, could change the lives of millions of oppressed people in America.

A man that risked his life, family, and freedom for a cause that he believed in. If Soul on Ice is "Proverbs", then Soul on Fire is Ecclesiastes. Proverbially, the story of a man who realized and experienced the world from a wiser, more privileged vantage point. And after seeing the world from this perspective, this man realizes that the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

Soul On Fire sheds light on the stark contrasting views of countries outside of America and gives insight into how living under different forms of government, living around different revolutionaries from different nationalities, and being away from "home "for 8 years could impact a person's psyche', and make them come to certain conclusions and realizations about home. This book is full of wisdom from a man who left home thinking the answers to life were on the other side of the globe, when in actuality he had the answers the entire time..

[Malcolm Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eldridge Cleaver's Soul On Fire is a testimony of one's journey going from a Marxist-Leninist to being a supporter of the U.S. Constitution and a inspiring Christian. This book shows us that anybody can change their beliefs. Reading this book I was quiet surprised with what Mr. Cleaver had discovered. The chapters that took place in Algeria, North Vietnam, and even The People's Republic of China really sparked my interest. In chapter 9 (which is titled Finding God-Find Eldridge) Mr. Cleaver dines with the soon to be President of France, receives French citizenship, and also accepts Jesus Christ in his life. Eventually, Mr. Cleaver makes the decision to go back to the U.S. and surrender to the authorities (with a little help from the French government). This book is an excellent choice for those that are feeling ashamed about changing their views on identity, politics, and even religion. Overall I have given this book a 4.5/5.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthy, and hair-curling read from Eldridge Cleaver, covering his life from his early Black Panther activities and the time he fled America, until he found Christ and surrendered himself to American authorities, returned to face trial, and grew into activity in the Christian Church. This volume follows Eldridge Cleaver's first book, Soul on Ice (detailing his conversion to Islam, and the beginnings of the Black Panthers). It leaves his life story incomplete however, because it precedes Eldridge's conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which occurred shortly before his death.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasant read. I must say, I like new Eldridge (Soul on Fire) much better than old Eldridge (Soul on Ice).

Especially interesting are the chapters dealing with Cleaver's exile in Algeria and Cuba, his many visits to Korea and Vietnam. He quickly becomes disenchanted with the alternatives to an imperfect America.

Cleaver was an articulate, intelligent man, a courageous writer, and thinker, worthy of revisiting today.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eldridge Cleaver was a complex quixotic man. His Books, "Soul on Ice" and "Soul on Fire", provide the reader with a unique perspective of America's white-majority dominated society and the racial inequality negros have had to endure for generations since their emancipation from slavery in the mid-nineteenth century.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Far fewer have read this book by Cleaver than have read his first one, "Soul on Ice" and that is a shame. This book fills the gaps in his story. Cleaver was a profound thinker that was labeled a radical due to his early actions and statements. Yet he was always true to seeking what was right.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read, this autobiography discusses Cleaver's years in exile in Algeria and France. Many on the Left were extremely critical of Cleaver when this was written after his return to the U.S. After the better part of a decade in exile, Cleaver came back to stand trial after having what he describes as a religious experience in France. He had been given political asylum there but decided to return and face the music after accepting Jesus as his savior. While as an atheist this narrative seems contrived to me, I do find the criticisms he has of the "revolutionary" countries he dealt with in exile (Cuba, Algeria, North Korea, Vietnam, and China) compelling. While it may argued that Cleaver simply exchanged one form of zealotry for another (he later endorsed Ronald Reagan for president and even ran as a republican himself), it does not in my mind negate his criticisms of the totalitarian nature of the communist republics he lived and traveled in. True, the racist conditions in the U.S.A. dictated drastic action in the minds of many in the Black community here in those times, but as Cleaver points out, he could at least get into a gun battle with the cops here and live to tell about it. Something that would have never happened in Algeria.

[Charlene Mathe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir of Eldridge Cleaver's life is a very good read. His personal journey is intense and moving. Reading it provides insights and hope for the racial issues dividing our nation today. Running from the law in America, Cleaver spent many years pursuing Communist ideals in Cuba, Algeria, and North Korea. At last he found a secure haven in France where his family fit right in. Nevertheless, Cleaver felt ungrounded and useless. Poignantly he wrote, "I would rather be in prison in America than free somewhere else." (p.98)
It seems like not much has changed in the mix of legitimate grievance, Marxist agitation and organization, Black Muslim solidarity, and prison culture extension to the neighborhoods that Cleaver writes about. We are losing gains that were made in Cleaver's time. When he returned to America after seven years abroad, he was amazed at the change. "I thank God," he wrote,"for the changes in my life ... and also the improvements and alterations that have touched our society in America...." (p.140)

[Kalle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a very interesting read. From the blurb, I thought this was going to be some kind of highly religious book. Instead, I got an intriguing insight into a period and a struggle that is rather foreign to me.

I think Cleaver is not a very good writer, he seems to jump around a lot and does not really explain most things. I understand that some of the details are not the focus of this book, but it would have been interesting to read more about some of the details in his escape plans. Also, without a proper knowledge of this period in history, some of the events and references just flew over my head - then again, that is my problem, not necessarily the author's.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will preface my review by noting that this book was my formal introduction to Cleaver rather than his critically acclaimed preceding book 'Soul on Ice'. This book briefly described Cleaver's childhood, incarceration and participation in The Black Panther Party, the focus of the book revolves around him leaving the United States and subsequent exile in Algeria & France, return to the US, and his conversion to Christianity. It would be easy for me to scrutinize some of the decisions Cleaver made from the comfort and safety that I presently enjoy. My intentions are to read 'Soul on Ice' to get a better context of what experiences made Cleaver the man he became.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Soul on Ice many years ago, so was pleased to find this second memoir. Reading it today, it seems no less relevant. He talks about gun control, violence, redemption, politics, foreign affairs, and the wish for children to have better lives than their parents. The atmosphere is eerily familiar.

[Percy Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing book with lots of historical prospective.

[Robert]

LOVED because it put my father's black panther friends into a larger context, rather than just cool men that treated me special simply because I was his son.

[Anne-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this when I was in Grade 4 or 5...