Out of Oakland: Black Panther Party Internationalism during the Cold War

The United States in the World

by Sean L. Malloy

In Out of Oakland, Sean L. Malloy explores the evolving internationalism of the Black Panther Party (BPP); the continuing exile of former members, including Assata Shakur, in Cuba is testament to the lasting nature of the international bonds that were forged during the party's heyday. Founded in Oakland, California, in October 1966 by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale, the BPP began with no more than a dozen members. Focused on local issues, most notably police brutality, the Panthers patrolled their West Oakland neighborhood armed with shotguns and law books. Within a few years, the BPP had expanded its operations into a global confrontation with what Minister of Information Eldridge Cleaver dubbed "the international pig power structure."Malloy traces the shifting intersections between the black freedom struggle in the United States, Third World anticolonialism, and the Cold War. By the early 1970s, the Panthers had chapters across the United States as well as an international section headquartered in Algeria and support groups and emulators as far afield as England, India, New Zealand, Israel, and Sweden. The international section served as an official embassy for the BPP and a beacon for American revolutionaries abroad, attracting figures ranging from Black Power skyjackers to fugitive LSD guru Timothy Leary. Engaging directly with the expanding Cold War, BPP representatives cultivated alliances with the governments of Cuba, North Korea, China, North Vietnam, and the People's Republic of the Congo as well as European and Japanese militant groups and the Palestinian Liberation Organization. In an epilogue, Malloy directly links the legacy of the BPP to contemporary questions raised by the Black Lives Matter movement.

Genres: History, International Affairs, Activism, Nonfiction

280 pages, Paperback

Published June 6, 2017

Reviews

[Debby Esmee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good basic history of the Black Panthers, with special attention paid to the organization's transnational ambitions and struggles. Definitely a solid introduction to Black Panther internationalism and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to learn about that part of the party. My main criticism is that some important events are left out or barely covered, whereas some arguments and stories are repeated a bit too often. I feel like the book could have been up to 50 pages shorter without the repetitions, and the points would still be made just as clearly.

[Courtney Kruzan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much about the BPP and their internationalism, that part was great. Pondering some of the finer points of theory presented here was neither easy or comfortable, but it was constructive. It did leave me feeling overwhelmed by the sheer scope and power of U.S. hegemony, but what doesn't these days right?

"We've tried and in trying, some died. Others went on with their lives for good or bad, and some of us are still imprisoned. Is this then our legacy--failure? If so, then history and future generations will condemn us--not for failing, but for not trying again."
- Albert "Nuh" Washington

[Derek · Rating 5 out of 5]

An immensely brave and courageous book for an academic to write.

[Rohit · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice quick book on the Black Panther Party, focusing on the way they interacted and theorized about international alliances and networks, and how this evolved over the years, and the affects of larger geopolitical dynamics. There was a lot of interesting analysis about the overall geopolitical terrain with respect to BPP allies like Algeria, China, Vietnam, and North Korea. There was also a lot of pretty good summary analysis about the BPP as a whole and the dynamics of its core members, and the contradictions that lead to its splits and ultimate demise. Overall an informative and well-written book.