A Taste of Power - A Black Woman's Story (Black Panthers)

Brown's account of her life at the highest levels of the Black Panther parly's hierarchy. More than a journey through a turbulent time in American history, this is the story of a black woman's battle to define herself. 'Profound, funny... wild and moving... heartbreaking accounts of a lonely black childhood.... Brown sees racial oppression in national and global context; every political word she writes pounds home a lesson about commerce, money, racism, communism, you name it... A glowing achievement.” —Los Angeles TimesElaine Brown assumed her role as the first and only female leader of the Black Panther Party with these words: “I have all the guns and all the money. I can withstand challenge from without and from within. Am I right, Comrade?” It was August 1974. From a small Oakland-based cell, the Panthers had grown to become a revolutionary national organization, mobilizing black communities and white supporters across the country—but relentlessly targeted by the police and the FBI, and increasingly riven by violence and strife within. How Brown came to a position of power over this paramilitary, male-dominated organization, and what she did with that power, is a riveting, unsparing account of self-discovery. Brown's story begins with growing up in an impoverished neighborhood in Philadelphia and attending a predominantly white school, where she first sensed what it meant to be black, female, and poor in America. She describes her political awakening during the bohemian years of her adolescence, and her time as a foot soldier for the Panthers, who seemed to hold the promise of redemption. And she tells of her ascent into the upper echelons of Panther leadership: her tumultuous relationship with the charismatic Huey Newton, who would become her lover and her nemesis; her experience with the male power rituals that would sow the seeds of the party's demise; and the scars that she both suffered and inflicted in that era's paradigm-shifting clashes of sex and power. Stunning, lyrical, and acute, this is the indelible testimony of a black woman's battle to define herself. I have all the guns and all the money. I can withstand challenge from without and from within. Am I right, comrades? With these words, Elaine Brown proclaimed to the assembled leadership of the Black Panther Party that she was now in charge. It was August 1974. The Panthers had grown from a small Oakland-based cell to a national organization that had mobilized black communities throughout the country. The party's achievements had won the support of millions of white liberals, but the violent assaults on the party by the police had brought death or imprisonment to many of its prominent members. Now its charismatic leader, Huey Newton, heading for refuge in Cuba, asked Elaine Brown to hold together a party threatened by internal conflict and the FBI. How she came to that position of power over a paramilitary, male-dominated organization and what she did with that power is an unsparing story of self-discovery. Growing up in a black Philadelphia ghetto and attending a predominantly white school, Elaine Brown learned firsthand the pain and powerlessness of being black and female. The Panthers held the promise of redemption. Elaine's account of her life at the highest levels of the Panthers' hierarchy illuminates more than the pain of sexism and the struggle against racism: The male power rituals she recounts carried the seeds of the Black Panther Party's destruction. Nowhere was this undertow more evident than in the complex character of Huey Newton, who became Elaine's lover and ultimately her nemesis. More than a journey through a turbulent time in American history, this is the story of a black woman's battle to define herself. Freedom, Elaine Brown discovered, may be more than a political question. By August 1974, The Black Panthers Were A National Organization To Be Reckoned With, Supported By Millions Of Blacks As Well As White Liberals. How Brown Came To Leadership In This Paramilitary, Male-dominated Organization, And What She Did With That Power, Is An Unsparing Story Of Self-discovery. Brown's Account Of Her Life At The Highest Levels Of The Black Panther Party's Hierarchy. More Than A Journey Through A Turbulent Time In American History, This Is The Story Of A Black Woman's Battle To Define Herself. Assumption -- York Street -- We Are The Girls Who Don't Take No Stuff -- Some Other Life -- Child Has Died -- Getting Black -- Living For The People -- January 17th -- Postmortem -- Dying For The People -- Where Is The Love? -- Becoming Huey's Queen -- Kiss Of The Panther -- Sanctuary -- New Wave To Ride -- Chairman -- Woman's Revolution -- Alpha And Omega -- Friends And Enemies -- Enemies And Friends -- I'll Change The World For You. Elaine Brown. Originally Published: New York : Pantheon Books, C1992. Brown's account of her life at the highest levels of the Black Panther party's hierarchy. More than a journey through a turbulent time in American history, this is the story of a black woman's battle to define herself.

By August 1974, the Black Panthers were a national organization to be reckoned with, supported by millions of blacks as well as white liberals. How Brown came to leadership in this paramilitary, male-dominated organization, and what she did with that power, is an unsparing story of self-discovery. Photos.