Top Picks: The Black Panther Party At 60

The revolution will be televised!

The 1960s were unlike any other decade. From the counterculture movement to the Stonewall Riots to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King, this was an era when civil unrest was at its peak. During the mid-1960s, a revolution was born from years of racial injustice and systemic oppression, ultimately changing the way in which we fight against injustice. In October 1966, the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense formed out of the need for decent housing, free breakfast for children, and protection from police brutality. Instead, the Party was deemed a threat to American society and ultimately dissolved in 1982.

To celebrate the Party's 60th anniversary, here are some top picks to highlight a controversial yet iconic legacy.

The Party's co-founder, Bobby Seale, once stated that "The Black Panther Party of Self Defense is a revolutionary party," and this graphic novel proves it. With its bold illustrations, nuanced history, and commitment to revealing uncomfortable truths, The Black Panther Party is page-turning and a must-read. 

Without a captain, the troops cannot lead. The polarizing autobiography Revolutionary, opens a new window Suicide delves deep into the psyche of its militant leader, Huey P. Newton. It traces his journey from growing up in poverty-stricken San Francisco to studying at Merritt College, where he met Bobby Seale. Moreover, the book also details Newton's political philosophy and outlines his idea of revolutionary suicide.

Generally, the Black Panther Party is depicted as disgruntled African-Americans with guns in hand and marching through the streets. However, Black Against Empire challenges this by analyzing the Party's rigid politics and history, and how it unraveled under a fearful government. 

What do we want? Justice! Where is it? In a book, of course! In We Want Freedom, former Black Panther member Mumia Abu-Jamal recalls his time in the Party in a powerful, poetic look at his duties, including founding the Philadelphia branch and writing the Party's national newspaper. 

If Huey P. Newton was the face of the Black Panther Party, Bobby Seale was its backbone. Seize the Time is a staple in Black Power literature. It not only advocates for the Party's principles but also recalls Bobby's meeting with Huey and examines how two disgruntled college students became change agents not only for their community but for the world. 

Do you have some book recommendations to share about the Black Panther Party? Let us know in the comments below.