Blood in My Eye

by George L. Jackson

Blood in My Eye was completed only days before its author was killed. George Jackson died on August 21, 1971, at the hands of San Quentin prison guards during an alleged escape attempt. At eighteen, George Jackson was convicted of stealing seventy dollars from a gas station and was sentenced from one year to life. He was to spent the rest of his life—eleven years—in the California prison system, seven in solitary confinement. In prison he read widely and transformed himself into an activist and political theoretician who defined himself as a revolutionary.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Race, History, Theory, Memoir, Biography

195 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

George Lester Jackson was an African-American left-wing activist, Marxist, author, a member of the Black Panther Party, and co-founder of the Black Guerrilla Family. Jackson achieved fame as one of the Soledad Brothers and was later shot to death by guards in San Quentin Prison.

Reviews

[Arnoldo Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the voice and story of a different type of prisoner. George Jackson would have been a Pulitzer prize winner, a noted writer and political leader, a teacher, made thinkers of the ilk of Noam Chomsky pale literally in comparison, had he not been Black and poor in the U.S The 1960s were fertile times -- even behind prison walls -- for thinking outside the box, for acting and doing things to change the word and the world. Although this is another discussion, 1960s not only saw the rise of civil rights, Black liberation, Chicano, American Indian, environmentalist, women's, Asian American, and new andn older left movements, this period also saw the consolidation and implementation of neoliberalism. The dramatic turn to the right in social and economic policies took shape by the end of the 1960s and collected its dues in blood. AIM leaders and members, Black Panthers, Puerto Ricans and other U.S.-born and bred liberation fighters and thinkers lost their lives, ended up in prison or marginalized by the rush of capitalism' restructuring and reconcentration of wealth that continues whose ebbs and flows impacted our movements, George Jackson was one of them. It's never late to read this book of a by-gone era that still holds out promise, hope and lessons for our current situation.

[Muhammad · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I find quite ironic, is that Madeleine Albright just released a book this year titled "Fascism: A Warning". Well I hate to be the one to bust her bubble but apparently her warning is over 40 years late. Now that the economic illusion is starting to fall for the dominant society, they are starting to see how both the Democratic and Republican parties are really in fact one in the same party. No matter who is in office, nothing changes. So-called "black radicals" had this figured out long before Donald Trump got in office and made what we all feared, all the more real. His "Make America Great Again" slogan, is really marching us toward that one party state government in all it's totalitarian glory. He is the ultimate embodiment of corporatism. The "TRUMP" corporate brand has now stamped America as just what it is... Although it shouldn't be a surprise as Plato's Republic still holds true and provides the blueprint for EVERY Western so-called Republic. We are now in stage 5, "A champion will come along and experience power, which will cause him to become a tyrant. The people will start to hate him and eventually try to remove him but will realize they are not able."

[Gustavo · Rating 5 out of 5]

How about i give u a quote:"Stupidity is not unknown to our long-range political policy makers. Participation in electoral politics organized by the enemy state- after recognizing that the whole process must be discredited as a conditional step into revolution, and particularly participation that tends to authenticate this process-is the opposite of revolution. It's a tactic for the ultra-rightists." "They'll never count me among the broken men." - George Jackson

[ocelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

extremely smart guy with a clear mastery of the double (!!) and triple (!!!) exclamation marks

[Sahar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will change your life. If you've figured out that capitalism is evil, and that nothing short of a revolution by the people can sort things out, then this book will inspire you to do what needs to be done. After going into great detail of what it means to be a revolutionary, what a revolution looks like and how to make it come about, Jackson then explores the rise of fascism. No other source has explained the alt-right so succinctly, and how it comes into power not only to address crises in capitalism, but also because of a left that's too weak to challenge it. Absolutely brilliant and impassioned book that should be on every organizer's syllabus.

[JRT · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is simply stunning. George Jackson writes with astounding clarity. He seamlessly weaves together revolutionary theory, analysis of the forces of reaction / fascism, and evaluation of political economic forces in order to pinpoint the urgent, life or death necessity of revolution. Jackson makes clear that revolution is not possible without the destruction of existing (capitalistic) property relations and economic institutions. He also repeatedly stresses that revolutionary challenge to the system invites and necessitates violent reaction and counterrevolution. To that, he states that "If terror is going to be the choice of weapons, there must be funerals on both sides."

Jackson viciously critiques "reformist" efforts as instruments of fascism. Particularly, he critiques electorialism as a counterrevolutionary campaign designed to sap away revolutionary energy. He makes clear, "Elections and political parties have no significance when all serious contenders for public office are fascist and the electorate is thoroughly misled about the true nature of the candidates."

Jackson spends much of the book writing about fascism, its development, manifestations in different nations, and consequences. He discusses the Reform-Fascism dichotomy, both of which are instruments of the capitalist order. Reform stifles revolutionary consciousness by offering concessions to the rebellious masses, while fascism attempts to violently repress and stamp out all revolutionary threats. In short, Jackson contends that fascism (and reformism) is the strengthening of monopoly capitalism. He makes clear that America is the most advanced fascist nation in the world, given its position as the preeminent imperialist power and the home of monopoly capital.

Jackson passionately contends throughout the book that revolution must be led by the most marginalized folks in society (and their vanguard party). He states that Black people in America are the revolutionary class, and thus must lead revolution. While he advocates for cross-racial unity, he struggles with the reality that the major obstacle of a unified Left is white racism and anti-Blackness. As such, he cites the Black Panther Party's "survival programs" as necessary to the building of a revolutionary socialist "Black commune" in America that can serve as the precipice for universal revolutionary change.

This is not a book I'd recommend to people who are new to the concept of revolutionary violence. Jackson's language and bluntness can be jarring. But for people who have read Fanon, Huey Newton, Mao Zedong, Che Guevara, etc., Blood In My Eye is a perfect addition to the canon of Black liberatory and revolutionary theory.

[Randall Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ultimate aim of fascists is the total destruction of all revolutionary consciousness. And in America, “the ultimate expression of law is not order - it’s prison.” George spends four years in prison just studying economics and military ideas in an attempt to “transform the black criminal mentality into a black revolutionary mentality.” “The only friend I had was a book”. “You depend of books”. Reading Marx in depth had led him to a sense of membership in the human community by joining a revolutionary brotherhood. Through America’s strongly unequal incarceration of both the poor and minorities, imprisonment had noticeably become a site of class struggle. Outside prison, white Americans cherished their illusive freedom yet true freedom he saw was reserved only for “a few families and their friends” (the elites) and it was the freedom to prey on the world. Prison and institutionalized racism had been America’s only two answers to any serious disobedience of elite plans. With Soledad Brother, a reader might keep waiting for George to finally tell them what he learned in all that reading he did by himself in prison. But, that won’t get told until you read Blood in My Eye, where George finally shows his serious political and economic education and understanding of the deepest issues. What would Malcolm X, Eldridge Cleaver, Assata Shakur and George Jackson say to us if we could ask them if books can be revolutionary? ☺ Only 6% of Americans dare to buy one book (or more) per year these days and that one book is usually recent fiction, so don’t expect a large percentage of Americans to be out there educating themselves on the leading critical thinkers and seeking community, when a narcissist culture is projecting into our homes 24/7 emotional pacifiers of all shapes and sizes. However, as things continue to fall apart with the planet now at stake, only people who have already done the serious self-education and cultural deprogramming time like George, Malcolm, Assata, and Eldridge did, will know where to go and what to do to find or create a lasting community.

[Eli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. Absolutely essential for any leftist

[Zach Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be in every revolutionary's library. I read this after reading Soledad Brother earlier this year (his prison letters that preceded Blood in My Eye), so it was really powerful to see the culmination of his political development and his radicalization through incarceration. The one section that struck me more than any other was the last one on fascism. His definition of fascism and its class composition completely changed my own perceptions of governments past and present. Hands down the best analysis of political economy I've ever read. READ THIS BOOK.

[zara · Rating 5 out of 5]

“So what is to be done after a revolution has failed? After our enemies have created a conservative mass society based on meaningless electoral politics, spectator sports, and a 3 percent annual rise in purchasing power strictly regulated to negate itself with a corresponding rise in the cost of living. What is to be done about an expertly, scientifically calculated contra-positive mobilization of the entire society?” — p 174

“The major obstacle to a united left in this country is white racism.” — p 111

“Fascism has temporarily succeeded under the guise of reform. The only way we can destroy it is to refuse to compromise with the enemy state and its ruling class.” — p 120

This collection of writings has so many important and prescient lessons, and warnings, for people seeking revolutionary change. The lesson that resonates with me most is that fascism evolves and maintains power through cooptation and reform, enticing working class people and even movement actors to align with power out of ignorance, cowardice, and/or opportunism.

I know that I will read and revisit this text again and again.

[Peter Bruno]

Shame on me for allowing this book to sit on my shelf for as long as it did. Jackson's conception of fascism is still perhaps the most relevant for our times. I hope others build upon Jackson's revolutionary work to incorporate how this model functions amongst the last 50 years of surveillance state expansion and modern military technologies.

[mimissyouu · Rating 5 out of 5]

fucking beautiful and entirely necessary i will be rereading this forever

[Vic u · Rating 5 out of 5]

most radical and inspiring book I’ve read

[Amanda P · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read for me and not one that I normally would have picked up. I recently read a book on the Patty Hearst kidnapping by the Symbionese Liberation Army and this was the book that they kept referring to throughout. From my understanding DeFreeze based his principals on this book and on Jackson’s ideals.
While I think that Jackson made some very valid points; I was not a fan of his desire for violence and almost misogynistic views.
I found myself having to reread paragraphs multiple times to fully comprehend his point because they were articulated in such an impressive way that I wanted to make sure I fully understood what he was saying.
Overall it was a good, but very difficult read.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood In My Eye was completed barely a week before the murder of George L. Jackson in San Quentin Prison on August 21, 1971. After being convicted at age eighteen for stealing seventy dollars from a gas station, Jackson was sentenced to one year to life. He spent the rest of his life, eleven years, in prison, with seven of those years in solitary confinement. While in prison he dedicated himself to revolutionary ideals and became a member of the Black Panther Party. In this, his last book, he presents his analysis of armed struggle, class war, fascism, communism, and other topics related to politics and revolution.

For much of his imprisonment, Jackson was isolated in solitary confinement for twenty-three hours a day. He devoted himself to study and acquired knowledge in Marxian economics and history. Blood In My Eye is a collection of letters and essays speaking primarily on prison life and revolutionary politics from a Marxian point of view. The approaches used in the writings include secondary data and social history, as well as Jackson’s own opinions on the topics.

The major theme of the book is the failures of capitalism, particularly regarding to blacks in America, and the need to replace it with a socialist society through revolution. Jackson makes the point that it is truly only a small percentage of the population that benefits from capitalism, while those at the bottom are continually exploited and oppressed. At the basis of all of Jackson’s writings is the recognition that white capitalist society must be destroyed; that reforms will only work to keep the oppressive system intact. In fact, he states that if forced to define fascism in one word, it would be “reform.” The ruling class uses reforms to “mask the true nature of modern fascism” (p. 118).

Jackson stresses the importance of unity in the revolutionary movement. With a unified front, the revolutionary cadre cannot be stopped. It is this very fact that has caused the division and racism that are sown into a capitalist society. Speaking on this, Jackson states:

The resentment and the seedbed of fear is patterned into every modern capitalist society. It grows out of a sense of insecurity and insignificance that is inculcated into the workers by the conditions of life and work under capitalism. This sense of vulnerability is the breeding ground of racism. At the same time, the ruling class actively promotes racism against the blacks of the lower classes. This programmed racism has always served to distract the huge numbers of people who subsist at just a slightly higher level than those in a more debased condition . . . Racism has served always in the U.S. as a pressure release for the psychopathic destructiveness evinced by a people made fearful and insecure by a way of life they never understood and resented from the day of birth. (p. 171-172)

The point is made several times that to build unity, first must come raising of consciousness. “We feed consciousness by feeding people, addressing ourselves to their needs, the basic and social needs, working, organizing toward a united national left. After the people have created something that they are willing to defend, a wealth of new ideals and an autonomous subsistence infrastructure, then they are ready to be brought into “open” conflict with the ruling class and its supporters” (p. 81). Jackson devotes a full essay to this conflict, as he offers strategy and tactics for urban guerilla warfare.

Blood In My Eye has valuable discussion on politics, revolution, class warfare, and race relations. Jackson’s writings are just as applicable today as they were when written. Although I was already familiar with some of the basic concepts in the book, I found this to be a very informative read, especially the discussions on fascism and racism. I agree with Jackson’s radical stance and believe that real change for all people will not be seen without a full revolution. As Huey P. Newton states in the afterword of the book, George Jackson, even after death, is a legendary figure and a hero. His ideas live on to inspire future generations.

[Kariem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Direct. Straight to the point. I mean read the passage on methods of "correction". You write this book only with nothing to your name and an inorganic death looming. Perhaps anything worthwhile to say only arises from this condition

[celestine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book, can’t believe it took me so long to read it but I’ve been so deep in economic and historical bores that it was just the breath of air I needed.

Jackson’s fiery calls for revolution are unlike any others I’ve seen before. They are extremely radical, extremely urgent, and convincing, unlike most other calls to arms like this by Western Maoists. Jackson analyzes the United States as the most-advanced fascist state quite convincingly, which provides the material basis for the need for an armed uprising.

While the first half, dealing mostly in the urgent need for uprising and inner-city communes, is the half that gets you fired up, the second half is probably the most interesting. Jackson’s proposals of the US being actually an advanced fascist state are grounded in good ideas. He points to the lack of ideological coherence in all other examples of fascism (Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, etc) and draws the conclusion that the economic setup and the particular way the state intervenes on behalf of that setup, are what make fascism. He explains this behavior as a dialectic between reform and repression— this is the brilliant kernel that Jackson has found. It’s not a complete analysis; this second half of the book is journaled out, sections written over some of the final days of Jackson’s life. The first half, too, is incomplete in its theoretical expansions. What would be the inner-city commune? Perhaps this points to study of civil war era Chinese communes. It hurts me to think of what could have come from this brilliant mind if it wasn’t cut short.

This moment in time was a unique one for the country. It’s one of history’s great tragedies that the Black Panthers were not victorious.

[Rosa K · Rating 5 out of 5]

“People are already dying who could be saved, generations more will die or live poor butchered half- lives if you fail to act. Discover your humanity and your love in revolution. Pass the torch. Join us, give up your life for the people”

George Jackson was a revolutionary of his time. And how fortunate are we to read and learn from his words. Thankful for his intellectual legacy of guerrilla warfare, the ways in which we can identify and dismantle facism, and how to efficiently and productively build the type of communities we need to truly be liberated.

Learned a lot about the Soledad brothers, and what was going on during the time of the Black Panthers.

Thankful for Noname’s book club for introducing this book (free PDF on her socials‼️)

Please read!

[Megan O'Hara · Rating 5 out of 5]

truly could not be more grateful to have George Jackson mercilessly jab me in my third eye for 200 pages. i could say lots of things about this but i don't need to be both on record and on record with amazon lol. what i will say is this gives perhaps the hardest dedication of all time: "To the black communist youth, to their fathers— We will now criticize the unjust with the weapon"

[Rallie · Rating 5 out of 5]

do you live in the United States? If so I would argue that you have an ethical obligation to read this book and learn from Jackson. you don't have to agree with everything he says, but you need to listen.

[Neha · Rating 5 out of 5]

required reading

[Olivier · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Blood in My Eye" is George L. Jackson's second book after "Soledad Brother's", published in 1972. The author was the Black Panthers' Party's (BPP) field-marshal for the prisons.
He was imprisoned for stealing 70 dollars when he was 18 years old. In 1971, he was assassinated by a guard. During his imprisonment, his younger brother Jonathan, also a member of the BPP, was killed in action while he was trying to free some black prisoners. He was just 17 years old.

It contains letters and texts about revolution and the American black-colony liberation war, those are based on his studies of scientific socialism.
Inspired by Mao, Lenin and by the prideful liberation struggles in Vietnam and Algeria,
he planned how to fight imperialism from his home and how to realized the BPP's
slogan: All power to the people.

Despite the fact he was seeing the world through thick bars, he offers us a brilliant
analysis of the hostile social relationship in the America of the 70's.
I would recommend this book to everybody who is interested in the rebellious flip-side of
the US. That side that the government has always tried to hide in its darkest cells.

[William West]

An extraordinary tactical thinker who was also a beautiful writer of english prose:

"Born to a premature death, a menial, subsistence-wage worker, odd-job man, the cleaner, the caught, the man under hatches, without bail- that's me, the colonial victim. Anyone who can pass the civil service examination today can kill me tomorrow. Anyone who passed the civil service examination yesterday can kill me today with complete immunity. I've lived with repression every moment of my life, a repression so formidable that any movement om my part can only bring relief, the respite of a small victory or the release of death. In every sense of the term, in every sense that's real, I'm a slave to, and of, property. "

[Brian Mcquaid · Rating 5 out of 5]

George Jackson writes a history of the United States which analysis the culture, politics and economics us society. Using this description he outlines, with great vitriol, strategy and tactics for political change in the us. Jackson’s analysis and historiography are well researched, moving and remain pertinent for those who seek involvement or are involved in political action today.

[Chidinma Osuagwu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've really never read a text on struggle that gives such a structured analysis and detail on guerilla warfare (a key component to Black liberation). George Jackson was so damn well read, resourceful and brilliant. Smart read. necessary

[Black Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

George Jackson is phenomenal, and was way ahead of his time. Must read in juxtaposition with Soledad Brother.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

George L. Jackson, member of the Black Panther Party, founder of the Black Guerilla Family , writer, theoretician, revolutionary and political prisoner. Though before becoming a revolutionary , he had been a political prisoner , held in a state prison on unjust grounds. We cannot separate Jackson's political writings from his early life, since like most revolutionary thinkers , he was bred by the conditions he survived under. Having a long rap sheet due to a history of petty crimes ranging from robbery to assault , George spent time in juvenile facilities, in which he would later attempt to escape a troubled lifestyle after being released, yet he would soon become a victim of once again. After an armed robbery at a gas station, he was sentenced from one year to life in San Quentin Jail. There, he began to interrogate his conditions ,his ideologies and intellectual curiosity by studying the works of Karl Marx, Mao Tse Tsung, Huey P. Newton and more. He was born again , as George Jackson the political activist. Being directly contacted and recruited by Huey P. Newton, he became the Field Marshall of the Black Panther Party and founded the Black Guerilla Family, which was originally conceived to be a prison cell of the BPP that would survive state repression. The writings of George Jackson include analyses ranging from the characteristics of fascism , its relation to settler colonial rule in the form of "Democracy" ,Marxian economics and blueprints for building a communistic society in a capitalist economy in which it would eventually supplant. If George Jackson wasn't a poor, working class black man behind a prison wall he'd be a best selling author, professor , or award winner of some sort. This book aims- and rightly executes- to challenge your ideas about the established order and flares the fires of a strong resisting soul that rest in every black American and colonized people everywhere. It is not just a book, it is a blueprint for liberation. Highly recommended .

[Aye Gomorrah · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a powerful voice. Thank you George Jackson. Made me think a lot about violence, its use, it itself as a natural aspect of human nature, or as a tool. Really remapped my understanding of fascism. This writing is important to me as a young abolitionist working specifically within the reentry field for many years. How do i exist in a society created with the sole purpose of protecting private property? How do i pursue a legal career when I don’t believe in the foundation or the structure of the American legal system? (What is the true function of prisons, what is the real underlying economic motive of the criminal justice system) How do i read these texts 50 years after they were written only for the world to have gotten much much worse?

“We will never have a complete definition of fascism because it is in constant motion, showing a new face to fit any particular set of problems that arise to the threaten the predominance of the traditionalist capitalist ruling class.”

“The ultimate expression of law is not order - it’s prison”

“The human structure is animated by the contradiction between an intense longing for and fear of freedom”

“People who refuse to stop fighting can never be repressed- they either win or they die”

[Spicy T AKA Mr. Tea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure how I feel about this. I do wonder how Jackson's thought would have progressed had he not been assassinated. Maybe it was because his thought was so revolutionary (as well as being a good organizer) that lead to his murder. When I started reading it, I was first struck by how much of his thinking was influenced by Fanon. Then there were other concepts that we see today making a come back like "the 1%." Much like the Red Army Faction which operated in a time and place in history, a lot of Jackson's writings feel a bit anachronistic. The tone and intensity is awesome. And his thoughts about tactics and strategies with regards to liberation are meaningful. But it feels like it's coming out of another era, which it is, and makes it feel slightly dated and perhaps not as helpful as it could be today. Glad I read it.

[William]

Challenging and bluntly direct, this impassioned work of political revolution is written with knife-like precision. I am, however, at times put off by its militancy, and its propensity toward eliminating nuance. I understand thats not what this text is for, and I understand identifying the challenges and naming the systems rallied against us. But I guess such vitriol, even when justified, seems to tread dangerously close to repeating the patterns of evil I wish we’d liberate ourselves from.

Regardless, a passionate plea made all the more powerful by George Jackson’s assassination by the very powers he railed against. I will continue to reread thus and will write more.