Seize the Time: The Story of the Black Panther Party and Huey P. Newton

Customer Reviews:

A document of one of the most important periods of American history.......2007-07-01

This is the book you need to read on the history of the Black Panthers, wehre it all began, how they formed, the ideology behind the movement and the eventual collapse of the movement.

Yes there are contradictions from the party members (not to mention a few from what the members turned into post BPM) but this is realy a document of one of the most important aspects of the civil rights movement an aspect that is largely overlooked. The Black Panthers always saw themselves as the 'sons of Malcolm X' and in many ways they were a manifestation of the policies of Malcolm X.

After this you should check out 'Die N****r die' by H Rap Brown.

An absorbing true portrayal of the rocky road of resistance to racism and class oppression.......2006-01-12

Now featuring a new introduction by the author Seize the Time: The Story of the Black Panther Party and Huey P. Newton is the reissue of a protest-era manifesto first published in 1970. Recorded and written by the author during 1969 and 1970 when he was a political prisoner in the San Francisco County Jail - incarcerated as a defendant in two prejudiced political trials that he later won in court - Seize the Time offers an amazing, up-close and personal view of the Black Panther Party's formation, goals, and obstacles both within and without. The party's strict code of conduct, including an absolute prohibition against drug use or the misuse of firearms, is described in depth, as are the lives of its founders. From persecution and harassment by all levels of government to the need to expel individuals who were "black racists", or who tried to use the party for personal status and reputation without doing any work to promote the party's cause of equality, awareness, and self-defense, Seize the Time is an absorbing true portrayal of the rocky road of resistance to racism and class oppression. Highly recommended.

Still Not Finished ..........2006-01-01

I bought this book almost 7 years ago, at that time I was finishing books of that size in a week tops. However, because the book is so poorly written, has a very slow speed to it, and is very difficult to 'get into' in general, it is still unfinished!

Seeing the book as mandatory reading for those interested in Black empowerment, I tried over and over to stomach it, but to no avail, regardless of reading location, time of day, or any other self-directed motivator.

Looking at all of the other posts, I'm glad others enjoyed it. I purchased the book to support the cause, and to reward the author for his most powerful works as a Black panther. Please rewrite the book, I'd really like to finish it.

A interesting look at the party .......2005-12-09

Seize the time writtin by Bobby Seal has got to be one of the most electrifying, in-depth accounts seen through the eyes of the co-founder of the party. It expresses the political ideals and the organized plan for the upliftment of not only for the American African Man, but all those whom were opressed by the systmatic plan made for the wealthy few. Topics rarley discussed in the texts and media nowdays are brought to the table in this book . It discusses numerous veiws held by that of the founder of the party Huey P Newton. I would recommend this book to anyone.
I read in 8th grade and now that I am a senior in high school I can understand and gather the universal message that was described in the book.

Should be in a history books.......2005-06-09

In schools you are taught to think of the Black Panthers as rebels with communist intentions. The true nature of the black panthers is revealed in Bobby Seale's book. The amount of struggle that blacks had to go through in the "free" nation of America was depressing. The problem with history books is that they are sugar coated with so-much utopian ideas that you wonder if America's political system is flawless. Having a backgound of Jamaican and Indian, this book is a must for any person who's been confronted with prejudices of any sort. A must-read is the chapter "Gagged and Shackled", I honestly couldn't believe how Bobby Seale was treated.
The problem today is that blacks in America still believe that they have rights and freedoms. In essence corperate America puts rich blacks in the media instead of the educated ones. This systematic brain washing system allows for the youth of today to look up to these so-called blacks and always wanting to attain this rich lifestyle. Suggestive readings should be of Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, WEB Dubois, Fidel Castro, Marcus Garvey, Angela Davis.

Seize the Time : The Story of the Black Panther Party & Huey P Newton

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Seize the Time : The Story of the Black Panther Party & Huey P Newton
Bobby SEALE
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000I1ONC2

Seize the Time:The Story of the Black Panther Party and Huey P. Newton

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Seize the Time:The Story of the Black Panther Party and Huey P. Newton
Bobby Seale
Manufacturer: Vintage Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0090042409

Seize the Time the Story of the Black Panther Party and Huey P Newton SIGNED

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Seize the Time the Story of the Black Panther Party and Huey P Newton SIGNED
Seale Bobby
Manufacturer: Black Classic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000LBV3H2

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Seize The Time - The Story Of The Black Panther Party And Huey P. Newton
Bobby Seale
Manufacturer: Black Classic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000RIUYPG

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SEIZE THE TIME : THE STORY OF THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY AND HUEY P. NEWTON.
Bobby Seale
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UE296E

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Seize the Time the Story of the Black Panther Party and Huey P. Newton
Bobby Seale
Manufacturer: Vintage Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0394716493

Product Description

Bobby Seale, Chairman of th eBlack Panther Party, defendant in the Chicago conspiracy case, and one of the New Haven Panther 14, writes from jail about himself, his party, and its leadership- the black men who have changed themselves, have canged America, and in the course of it, have caused an enormouscontroversy about our liberties and institutions.

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Seize the Time, The Story of the Black Panther Party and Huey P. Newton
Bobby Seale
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OPJWD2

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SEIZE THE TIME; THE STORY OF THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY AND HUEY P. NEWTON
Bobby Seale
Manufacturer: Black Classic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HT9FQO

Book Description

In the Saddle is the touching story of a memorable Civil War unit, and covers the first days of the war, the middle war with its exhausting battles, skirmishes and cavalry raids, and the end of the war with depleted ranks, death and surrender. The unit distinguished itself in battle from the coasts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, to the pathos and drama of the Atlanta battles, and in harassing Sherman's blue hosts on his infamous march of destruction to the sea. The story is told using narratives, military sketches, and letters of members of the 5th Georgia Ð from the teenage boy from the back woods of Georgia who enlisted in 1862 and served for the balance of the war, to the men who were captured and endured life as a Northern prisoner of war, their story is one whose voices call to us from the past. Supplemented with vintage photographs and drawings, In the Saddle offers rich and rewarding reading., 6" x 9"

Customer Reviews:

Civil War letters, memoirs.......2001-09-03

"In the Saddle" is an interesting blend of letters, diary excerpts and reminescences of a Confederate cavalry unit - the 5th Georgia Cavalry. The book is informative and well documented, although it has -- even though the author admits it -- a pro-southern bias. The most enthralling part of the book is its coverage of the constant battling and skirmishing of the 5th Georgia and the Confederate cav. with the hugh Union army under Gen. William T. Sherman as he cuts and burns his way through Georgia and the Carolinas. Though out numbered, the Rebel troopers are superior to their Union cavalry counterparts. Not until after Atlanta falls and the breadbasket of the Confederacy is spent does the Federal cavalry compare to the Confederate horsemen. By then, however, the Rebel army is ragged, hungry and ill equipped -- often out numbered three, four or five to one. It is amazing that they accomplished what they did. In all the book is an enjoyable read -- even for a Yankee!

A Must Read.......2000-04-18

I picked this up recently for several reasons. I am researching my own Confederate cavalry ancestors and was interested in the author's approach of using first person accounts to tell this unit's story. The author states in the Introduction that this book should not be considered a full history of the unit but as "a primer." He accomplishes this perfectly. Through his use of letters, I was able to "see" through the eyes of the brave men of the 5th GA Cavalry. I now feel even closer to my ancestors who fought on both sides of the War Between the States. This work should be read by anyone seeking to better understand what it was like to ride "in the saddle" for extended periods and under situations that would try the bravest soul. I found his chapter on the Union prison camp, Camp Chase Ohio, especially poignant.

An Atlanta Reviewer.......1999-12-24

I read this book in one evening, eventhough I am not a Civil War buff. My husband left this in our den and I picked it up and was enthralled. Many of the soldier's stories were touching and interesting, particularly since they fought in and around where I live -- Atlanta. Some of these men and boys suffered horribly for their beliefs (whether right or wrong) you have to admire them. In addition, foot notes are given to help explain military terminology. I recommend this book; it is an excellent window into those horrible days of war that shaped our nation, healed its wounds, opened other wounds, and brought us into the 20th century

A reader's preview.......1999-11-30

I had the opportunity to read this work - before its official release. I highly recommend this book if you are a Civil War buff, even if you aren't! The first hand accounts of what is was like to be a young cavalryman during the American Civil War are engaging for any reader, particular those who like adventure and history. But be prepared, this book takes a no-apologies approach to its subject matter: it is decidedly Southern. In this lies a certain charm, if you want to call it that. It is supplemented with numerous period photos and drawings that enhance the reading experience. In addition, it covers the often forgotten war in the western theater and the subsequent fighting in and around that doomed little town called Atlanta. Over all, it is recommended reading...

Book Description

A timely book that analyzes the formation of Kurdish national identity from the late Imperial period to the present.

In tracing the evolution of Kurdish nationalism, Denise Natali shows that, contrary to popular theories, there is nothing natural or fixed about Kurdish identity or the configuration that Kurdish nationalism assumes. Rather, Kurdish nationalism has been shaped by the development of nation-states in the region. Although Kurdish communities have maintained some shared sense of Kurdishness, Kurdayeti (the mobilization of Kurdish identity) is interwoven with a much larger series of identities within the "political space" of each Kurdish group. Different notions of inclusion and exclusion have modified the political and cultural opportunities of Kurds to express their ethnic identities, and opening the possibility of assuming alternative identities over time.

With this book Natali makes a significant contribution to theoretical, empirical, and policy-based scholarship on the Middle East, the plight of the Kurds, ethnonationalism, and ethnopolitical conflict. Hers is the first comparative work to examine Kurdish nationalism as a function of diverse political spaces. As a vital addition to the literature in the field, this book will supplant a number of standard texts on the Kurds.

Customer Reviews:

A People without a State inspire an Author with Scholarly Insight.......2006-12-09

The Kurds and the State is a scholarly book about the development of Kurdish national identity in three states in which the majority of the Kurdish population is located; Iraq, Turkey, and Iran. Its main contribution is to the theory of ethnonationalism, taking a middle ground between primordialist and constructive approaches and showing that ethnonational identity is shaped and reshaped by political processes in different contexts over time. It is a major contribution to the literature on Kurdish politics and society, and the bibliography reveals the author's mastery of the subject matter. It is no surprise therefore, that the Kurds and the State has been recently awarded the 2007 Choice Magazine Award for Outstanding Academic Titles.

It is also not surprising that this book would antagonize. While Natali refuses the typical victimization of the Kurds argument, she argues through comparative histories that policies, particularly the radical and violent ones by the Turkish state, have created violent and reactionary Kurdish nationalism in Turkey.

It is necessary in this context to consider Michael Rubin's critique of Natali's book. Rubin claims that The Kurds and the State ignores the fact many Kurds attained high level posts in the Turkish government and throws in Turkey's second president Ismet Inönü as an example. There are two problems with this issue. First, the claim that Inönü was an ethnic Kurd is a highly controversial one. There are many claims pointing to the opposite direction - that he came from a Balkan family who had been converted to Islam to serve the Ottoman State. Rubin needs to be more careful in consulting his undisclosed sources, which probably are unaware that not everyone born in Malatya (Inönü's hometown) or Bitlis (Inönü's genealogical hometown according to some controversial sources) is a Kurd. Secondly, if it were true that Inönü was an ethnic Kurd, this would not weaken but on the contrary fortify Natali's argument. It has been a systematic policy of the Turkish State to force the Kurds to deny their ethnic identity, not only in attaining high-level posts but even for their survival during most of modern history. If he was an ethnic Kurd, Inönü is a good example of how a Kurd overacts his compulsory role of denial. There is not sufficient space to quote Inönü's rich repertoire of insults with violent implications against the Kurds; however, I have chosen a few among them to give an idea about the man we are talking about here.

Inönü was a passionate advocate of inappropriate violence during the quelling of the Sheikh Said rebellion of 1925. In the aftermath of the rebellion he had following to say: "We must Turkify the inhabitants of our country at any price and we will annihilate those who oppose the Turks or le turquisme". The implication of this statement was not only an immense bloodbath in Kurdistan but it also marked the beginning of the Turkish State's policy of systematic denial and assimilation. Inönü was also the architect of the 1938 Dersim operation. His 1935 `East' report analyses the ethnic composition of each Kurdish province in detail and proposes plans for Turkification, which involve forcible population resettlements. His report argues that these measures were necessary to prevent the formation of `the real, horrific Kurdistan'. The major implication of this report was Turkish Army's 1938 Dersim operation, which resulted in the indiscriminate annihilation of at least 10 per cent of the regional population, sufficient to be called an ethnocide.

It is true, therefore, as Rubin argues, that many Kurds attained high-level posts, but he fails to mention the price they had to pay for this: the denial of their identity and in many cases (like Inönü's if we are to rely on Rubin's sources) to turn violently against their own people. Consequently, Natali's argument remains a sound one: Kurds could not attain high-level posts by revealing their Kurdish ethnic identity. Only by becoming Turkish, or claiming they were Turkish, could a Kurd attain professional success.

Rubin's verdict on Natali's bibliography is simply unfair, since her work is sourced in primary resources from Kurdistan and in five languages. Rubin's objection to Natali's references on the Armenian (Dadrian) and Iranian (Najmabadi) scholars is also rather curious, since firstly, the Kurds and the State's argument does not rely uncritically on these sources and secondly, an Armenian or Farsi scholar never deserves to be discriminated against a Turkish, French, British or American scholar on the basis of her/his ethnic identity (Every scholar is to a certain degree a `polemicist' and certainly has a `political prism').

Contrary to Rubin's claims, Natali specifically addresses the effects of Kemalist secularizing reforms on Kurdish tribes (pp. 79-84), revealing how the trajectory of Kurdish nationalism in Turkey became Islamized. For example, she maintains that the leader of the most important Kurdish uprising, Shaikh Said, did not call just for Kurdish nationalism (Kurdayeti, which Rubin misspells), but an Islamic state of which Kurdish nationalism is a part.

Natali's grasp of history is also accurate, which is the source of another baseless criticism that Rubin challenges her with: Kurdish borders were not determined, as he proclaims, in the sixteenth century but by the 1639 Kasr-i Sirin Treaty. In fact, even this statement can be disputed, knowing that the Turkish-Iranian border has changed several times since that date, the latest amendment being as recent as 1931.

In sum, The Kurds and the State, through its analytic and informative richness, refreshes and improves our knowledge and understanding of the Kurdish question, a major Middle Eastern and global concern of our time.

The Kurds and the State.......2006-11-27

In The Kurds and the State, derived from her University of Pennsylvania doctoral dissertation, political scientist Natali explores how Kurdish nationalism developed in Turkey, Iran, and Iraq. She does this with the opacity and jargon of an academic: "This book explains why Kudayetî, or Kurdish national identity, becomes ethnicized and the similarities and variations in its manifestation across space and time."

Beyond style, her comparative approach has value. The Kurds are not monolithic, linguistically or politically, though too many works treat them as such; to this, The Kurds and the State is an important exception. Natali avoids contemporary Kurdish narratives of victimization. Kurdish complaints that European powers divided Kurdistan do not hold up to historical fact: the border between what is now Turkey and Iran, for example, dates from the sixteenth century. Nor does she make the mistake of many contemporary authors and instant experts, retroactively extending Kurdish nationalism. She explains how Kurdish nationalism grew in early twentieth century Anatolia with the coming of European consuls and intra-communal tensions. In contrast, Kurdish nationalism took longer to develop in polyglot Iran, perhaps because there Sunni versus Shi`ite sectarian practice rather than ethnicity determined the degree to which Kurds could integrate.

Natali's overviews and comparisons are thought-provoking. She juxtaposes the growth of Kurdish participation in the political process in Turkey with an increasingly stilted process in Iraq and notes how Ankara's embrace of the Kurds and their socioeconomic and political diversification undermined any unitary sense of Kurdish identity in Turkey. Her examination of Turkish strategies to undercut Kurdistan Workers Party (Partiya Karkerên Kurdistan, PKK) terrorism in the 1980s is also useful even if she remains critical of Ankara's refusal to "de-ethnicize the notion of Turkish citizenship." In these ways, The Kurds and the State advances the staid and often simplified historiography that marks Kurdish studies.

But Natali's work is weakened by several problems, starting with her unsure grasp of history. She amplifies, for example, the efficiency of Ottoman state control and discounts the efficiency of Iranian bureaucracy. While inefficient and weak by Western standards, nineteenth century Iran was organized enough to defeat incursions by Ottoman Kurdish tribal chiefs along its periphery. Natali appears unaware that published collections of Iranian diplomatic correspondence are replete with reports and discussions telegraphed from the front. She is also prone to exaggeration. If "early republican Turkey removed all opportunities for the Kurds," how did 0smet 0nönü, an ethnic Kurd, succeed Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Turkey's founding father?

More serious is the incompleteness of Natali's discussion of the Atatürk religious reforms. She fails to address head-on the impact of his abolishment of the caliphate, the source of a great deal of tension among Turkey's Kurdish tribes for whom religious traditionalism trumped nationalism as the impetus for struggle with the nascent Turkish republic. Her bibliographical judgment is questionable, citing, for example, Armenian polemicist Vahakn Dadrian (whose name she misspells).

Discussion of the Kurds of modern Iran falls short and that of Syria is nonexistent. Natali parses secondary sources, many out-of-date, for mention of Kurds and appears unaware that some authors upon whose work she relies, including Afsaneh Najmabadi (whose name she also misspells), approach Iranian historiography through a political prism that ends up skewing her narrative. It is unfortunate that The Kurds and the State falls short, for a more careful and complete comparative examination of Kurdish society would contribute much.

Michael Rubin
Middle East Quarterly
Winter 2007

A close scrutiny of the evolution of Kurdish nationalism.......2006-02-08

The Kurds And The State: Evolving National Identity In Iraq, Turkey And Iran is a close scrutiny of the evolution of Kurdish nationalism, particularly with regard to how the development of nation-states has affected it. Written by a professor and research team member with thirteen years of experience studying Kurdish politics and identity inside and beyond Iraq, The Kurds And The State examines Iraq's transitions first to a colonial state, then to an independent republican state; Turkey's transitions first to an independent republican state then to a quasi-democracy; and Iran's transition first to a constitutional monarchy then to an Islamic republic. The Kurds And The State approach modern history not only in scholarly and philosophical terms, but also hard and fast practical terms, drawing upon both case histories and political science principles to reveal what is required for successful conflict-resolution strategies, particularly in volatile circumstances. A balanced, serious-minded, realistically grounded study and an absolute must-read for anyone seeking to understand Kurdish community, national identity, and possible nonviolent pathways to future conflict resolution.

The Kurds and the State.(Book review): An article from: Middle East Quarterly

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The Kurds and the State.(Book review): An article from: Middle East Quarterly
Michael Rubin
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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This digital document is an article from Middle East Quarterly, published by Thomson Gale on January 1, 2007. The length of the article is 605 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The Kurds and the State.(Book review)
Author: Michael Rubin
Publication: Middle East Quarterly (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 1, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Page: 87(2)

Article Type: Book review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Natali, Denise. The Kurds and the State: Evolving National Identity in Iraq, Turkey, and Iran.(Book review): An article from: Arab Studies Quarterly (ASQ)

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Natali, Denise. The Kurds and the State: Evolving National Identity in Iraq, Turkey, and Iran.(Book review): An article from: Arab Studies Quarterly (ASQ)
Gale Reference Team
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000M4RAF2
Release Date: 2006-12-20

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Arab Studies Quarterly (ASQ), published by Thomson Gale on June 22, 2006. The length of the article is 435 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Natali, Denise. The Kurds and the State: Evolving National Identity in Iraq, Turkey, and Iran.(Book review)
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication: Arab Studies Quarterly (ASQ) (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 22, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 28 Issue: 3-4 Page: 95(2)

Article Type: Book review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

Mexican conservationists have sometimes observed that it is difficult to find a country less interested in the conservation of its natural resources than is Mexico. Yet, despite a long history dedicated to the pursuit of development regardless of its environmental consequences, Mexico has an equally long, though much less developed and appreciated, tradition of environmental conservation. Lane Simonian here offers the first panoramic history of conservation in Mexico from pre-contact times to the current Mexican environmental movement. He explores the origins of conservation and environmental concerns in Mexico, the philosophies and endeavors of Mexican conservationists, and the enactment of important conservation laws and programs. This heretofore untold story, drawn from interviews with leading Mexican conservationists as well as archival research, will be important reading throughout the international community of activists, researchers, and concerned citizens interested in the intertwined issues of conservation and development.

Customer Reviews:

Good, concise narrative of Mexican conservation history.......1998-02-25

Simonian's book provides an excellent overview of the principal figures and events in the history of conservation in Mexico. The only improvement that could be made would have been to offer a more detailed analysis of the major events, leading to a profounder understanding of the reasons for the current state of conservation in Mexico. Ofcourse, this could only have been done in the course of longer book. For readers trying to understand conservation and environmental policy in the larger context of Mexican political and cultural history, I would strongly recommend reading an additional text on the general history of modern Mexico.

Kudos to Simonian for an excellent job!.......1996-10-05

Kudos to author Lane Simonian for producing the definitive English-language account of Mexican environmental history. Defending the Land of the Jaguar traces the history of conservation and environmentalism in Mexico from the pre-Conquest era to roughly 1992 and the NAFTA debates. I read this book with some trepidation, since it's a subject so close to my heart, having covered interior and border environmental issues for the past few years. Conveniently, the book ends just at the time that I entered Mexico. In some ways I wish I had had this book, but I guess I was lucky to be able to explore some of these topics on my own. Do I recommend this book? Definitely. This is a must read for anyone interested in Latin American environmental issues.

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