Black Power and Palestine: Transnational Countries of Color

Stanford Studies in Comparative Race and Ethnicity

by Michael R. Fischbach

The 1967 Arab–Israeli War rocketed the question of Israel and Palestine onto the front pages of American newspapers. Black Power activists saw Palestinians as a kindred people of color, waging the same struggle for freedom and justice as themselves. Soon concerns over the Arab–Israeli conflict spread across mainstream black politics and into the heart of the civil rights movement itself. Black Power and Palestine uncovers why so many African Americans―notably Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and Muhammad Ali, among others―came to support the Palestinians or felt the need to respond to those who did. Americans first heard pro-Palestinian sentiments in public through the black freedom struggle of the 1960s and 1970s. Michael R. Fischbach uncovers this hidden history of the Arab–Israeli conflict's role in African American activism and the ways that distant struggle shaped the domestic fight for racial equality. Black Power's transnational connections between African Americans and Palestinians deeply affected U.S. black politics, animating black visions of identity well into the late 1970s. Black Power and Palestine allows those black voices to be heard again today. In chronicling this story, Fischbach reveals much about how American peoples of color create political strategies, a sense of self, and a place within U.S. and global communities. The shadow cast by events of the 1960s and 1970s continues to affect the United States in deep, structural ways. This is the first book to explore how conflict in the Middle East shaped the American civil rights movement.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Race, Politics, Middle East, Social Justice, Anti Racist

296 pages, Hardcover

Published November 20, 2018

Reviews

[Justin Pellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't stop recommending this book to my friends!

This book is not meant to persuade. Fischbach compiles real "old-school research" to illustrate how African American politics and power dynamics were closely intertwined with peoples' stances on the Israel/Palestine conflict.

A fresh and relevant historical perspective on the American racial struggle. Set in the '60s, '70s, and '80s.

[FL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the title, this book isn't advocating a particular claim---rather, it's an impeccably-documented and easy-to-read (well, by academic standards) history of Black American activist attitudes towards the Israel-Palestine conflict. In addition to weaving a narrative of numerous major US activist figures, the text also contains lucid tellings of how people in the Middle East looked back at the US, discussing not just the PLO but also the Israeli Black Panthers. Fischbach weaves a net of connections I wouldn't have known to look for. That said, a bit more scene-setting might have been useful---it's hard to follow without already having some basic literacy in multiple of the conflicts at hand---though for the intended audience that may be irrelevant.

[danny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a helpful and informative book that contained history that I've been wanting to read for a while, but I was pretty underwhelmed by the lack of any real argumentation or political analysis throughout. The book presents the relationship between civil rights, Black power figures, and Black legislators (the book is by no means concerned only with Black Power) and Palestine. While some of what was presented is either relatively well known (the affinity between the Black Panthers and the PLO, Eldridge and Kathleen Cleaver in Algeria) or pretty well known (Bayard Rustin's neocon turn and lifelong ardent Zionism, James Baldwin's travels in Palestine), some of it was new to me and pretty interesting from a purely historical/informational perspective, like the role of Julian Bond in precipitating a wider reckoning of the role of Black americans and politicians in affecting foreign policy, or the fact that MLK visited Palestine as well, or some of the delegations to Lebanon and Palestine that occurred later in the 70s and 80s, after the heyday of the international 60s.

So for that reason and as a reference, this book is useful or interesting, but I have to say it really didn't feel like it had anything to say or to add to the topics it was most concerned with, and perhaps most damningly doesn't really seem to make any argument about the significance of the transnational solidarities between radical groups of the 60s. The book reads as nothing so much as an inventory, going from prominent figure to prominent figure and sketching out rather briefly their relationship with Palestine, comments made, scandals or controversies embroiled in, before moving on. This betrays both a focus on big name figures over rank and file members of the Panthers or the Black public at large, as well as a lack of any real thread connecting the various figures and movements in the book. I think especially after reading Mark Feldman's Shadow Over Palestine, the other main academic work I've encountered on the subject, I came to this book wanting more, and I left without having gotten it. Nevertheless, this is a helpful starting place for understanding the kinds of split within Black movement politics of the 60s that persist, mutatis mutandis, in the present day.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

stumbled across this book at the library by accident and i'm glad i did! while i was vaguely aware of black/palestinian solidarity and organizing, this book was an interesting deeper dive into that history. fuck israel and all similar settler colonial states, and free palestine

[Mtume Gant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong text here. As much as it’s a study of the connection of the Black Power movement and Palestinian liberation, it’s probably a greater document of the tension between Black Liberals and the Black power movement, as well as the wedge that separated liberal Jews from supporting Black civil rights in America. The history here is a must study if you want to know the period and why we have situations now

[Nathan G Ormsby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read on the topic of Palestine. I have never heard the Palestinian and Black American experience and connection articulated before. This book has given me a place to start my own education on this long standing conflict.

I appreciate the extensive notes.

[Charlotte Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting read.

[akbar fadhilah · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very compelling read.

it can be a bit challenging to follow, especially if—like me—you haven't previously read much about the history of palestine and israel. but by the end, you’ll come away with some valuable insights, new perspectives, and a much deeper understanding.

despite its title, the book doesn't try to sway you toward one side. it doesn't push a specific argument or agenda. instead, it presents information—plain and powerful—leaving it up to you to decide what’s right based on the facts.

in today’s context, this feels like a mandatory read cause it helps you grasp the full picture.

what struck me most is how the book traces the world’s response: from viewing it as a conflict, to labeling it a war, and now—undeniably—a genocide. (!)

with that understanding, i stand with palestine.

#VivaPalestineLibre #FreePalestine #FromTheRiverToTheSea

[Bianca L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Checked out from my college library as a source for a midterm paper. A very interesting, accessible, and informative look at an oft-overlooked aspect of the Black freedom struggle in America. Would absolutely recommend.

[Maxx Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book was awesome and informative. Shows how Black Americans came of age internationally. Also sad to see the same things still going on today.

[Aj · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. Most of which i feel as though i was already aware of. But still interesting nonetheless. It’s great to have all this info consolidated into one book.