by Bobby Seale

*rare, out-of-print 1st edition hardcover*

Description 

Seize The Time: The Story of The Black Panther Party and Huey P. Newton (1st edition hardcover) is a rare, out-of-print first-person narrative published in 1970 by political activist and Chairman of the Black Panther Bobby Seale. It was recorded in San Francisco County Jail in November and December 1969 by Arthur Goldberg, a reporter for the San Francisco Bay Guardian.

From the dust-jacket front flap:

"Bobby Seale, Chairman of the Black 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 changed America, and in the course of it, have caused an enormous controversy about our liberties and institutions."

From the introduction:

"Seize the Time was first published more than twenty years ago. I tape-recorded and wrote most of this book under the strain of being a political prisoner in the San Francisco County Jail in 1969 and 1970. At that time, most protest organizations, particularly anti-war and civil rights groups, were targeted for attacks by all levels of government. Seize the Time was published while I was incarcerated and a defendant in two major political trials - consecutive, racist, political trials that I eventually won."

"I am often told that Seize the Time is a 1960s protest-era classic. Whether it is indeed a classic or not, I am uncertain. However, I am certain that the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense as it was originally called, founded during that era and depicted in this book, remains a classic example of African and African American people's age-old resistance to racism and class oppression." -Bobby Seale

Synopsis

Chapter 1

An introduction to Bobby Seale, how his relationship with Huey Newton developed, and what motivated the founding of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense.

Chapter 2

Provides the philosophical and ideological underpinnings of party, including reference to Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung, which is commonly referred to as "The Little Red Book," as well as Fanon’s The Wretched of the Earth, which Seale introduced to Huey Newton.

Chapter 3

Chronicles the expansion of the party and the positive effect of having Eldridge Cleaver, a writer for Ramparts magazine, join the movement.

Chapter 4

Provides an account of the arrest of Seale and other Panthers on May 2, 1967 while they were attempting to speak out at the state capitol in Sacramento against the government's racist legislation.

Chapter 5

Documents the arrest of Huey Newton and subsequent conviction for second-degree murder, as well as events surrounding the Free Huey party (also referred to as Huey's birthday rally), which was a barbeque picnic rally for the Huey P. Newton Defense Fund along with a campaign fundraiser for Newton (who was running on the ticket for Congress from the Seventh Congressional District) and Seale (who was running for the State Assembly for the Seventeenth District) wherein a coalition was formed between the Black Panther Party and Stokely Carmichael, as well as other members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. This chapter also recounts the events that occurred subsequent to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., including the shooting of Bobby Hutton and arrest of Cleaver.

Chapter 6

Chronicles the events surrounding Seale being kidnapped by federal agents, transported to Chicago, and put on trial after being charged with conspiracy related to anti-Vietnam War protests during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. 

Chapter 7

The final chapter focuses on Seale’s beliefs regarding the underlying reasons for the Black Panther Raids, including Eldridge Cleaver's negotiations with North Vietnam and the CIA-FBI Infiltration known as COINTELPRO. This chapter also outlines the rules for members of Black Panther Party, including their fight to end male chauvinism, and an overview of the Party's revolutionary community programs, such as Free Breakfast for Children, Liberation Schools, Legal Aid, Free Medical Care, and Free Clothing Program. The book ends with a final essay regarding the importance of "seizing the time" in the fight for revolutionary change.

Product Details

Category: African-American Studies

Language: English

Format/Binding: Hardcover

Book Condition: Pre-owned - Very Good

Jacket Condition: Very Good

ISBN-10: 0091057507

ISBN-13: 9780091057503

Publisher: Random House 

Date Published: January 1, 1970

Pages: 429

Terms of Sale

All book sales are final. No returns or exchanges.

Purchaser will receive a pre-owned hardcover book in a dust jacket. The jacket is a bit worn around the edges and somewhat scuffed but without any serious tears. Pages and binding are clean, straight and tight. There are no marks to the text or other serious flaws. 

This item will be shipped within 7 business days of receipt of order via a major mail carrier (USPS, UPS, FedEX, or DHL) and may take up to 14 days to arrive depending on the carrier and destination.