The war before : the true life story of becoming a Black Panther, keeping the faith in prison, and fighting for those left behind

In 1968, Safiya Bukhari witnessed an NYPD officer harassing a Black Panther for selling the organization's newspaper on a Harlem street corner. The young pre-med student felt compelled to intervene in defense of the Panther's First Amendment right; she ended up handcuffed and thrown into the back of a police car. __The War Before__ traces Bukhari's lifelong commitment as an advocate for the rights of the oppressed. Following her journey from middle-class student to Black Panther to political prisoner, these writings provide an intimate view of a woman wrestling with the issues of her time—the troubled legacy of the Panthers, misogyny in the movement, her decision to convert to Islam, the incarceration of outspoken radicals, and the families left behind. Her account unfolds with immediacy and passion, showing how the struggles of social justice movements have paved the way for the progress of today. Born in Harlem, **Safiya Bukhari** joined the Black Panther Party in 1969. Imprisoned for nine years on a robbery and murder charge, Bukhari was released in 1999 and went on to co-found the New York Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition and other organizations advocating for the release of political prisoners. She died in 2003 at the age of 53. **Laura Whitehorn** has been a political activist since the 1960s. She spent 14 years in prison for the Resistance Conspiracy case. Released in 1999, she lives in New York City. **Wonda Jones** is the daughter of Safiya Bukhari.

In 1968, Safiya Bukhari witnessed an NYPD officer harassing a Black Panther for selling the organization's newspaper on a Harlem street corner. The young pre-med student felt compelled to intervene in defense of the Panther's First Amendment right; she ended up handcuffed and thrown into the back of a police car.

The War Before traces Bukhari's lifelong commitment as an advocate for the rights of the oppressed. Following her journey from middle-class student to Black Panther to political prisoner, these writings provide an intimate view of a woman wrestling with the issues of her time—the troubled legacy of the Panthers, misogyny in the movement, her decision to convert to Islam, the incarceration of outspoken radicals, and the families left behind. Her account unfolds with immediacy and passion, showing how the struggles of social justice movements have paved the way for the progress of today.

Born in Harlem, Safiya Bukhari joined the Black Panther Party in 1969. Imprisoned for nine years on a robbery and murder charge, Bukhari was released in 1999 and went on to co-found the New York Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition and other organizations advocating for the release of political prisoners. She died in 2003 at the age of 53.

Laura Whitehorn has been a political activist since the 1960s. She spent 14 years in prison for the Resistance Conspiracy case. Released in 1999, she lives in New York City.

Wonda Jones is the daughter of Safiya Bukhari.

An inspiring memoir from a legendary activist and political prisoner that “reminds us of the sheer joy that comes from resisting civic wrongs” (Truthout). In 1968, Safiya Bukhari witnessed an NYPD officer harassing a Black Panther for selling the organization's newspaper on a Harlem street corner. The young pre-med student felt compelled to intervene in defense of the Panther's First Amendment right; she ended up handcuffed and thrown into the back of a police car. The War Before traces Bukhari's lifelong commitment as an advocate for the rights of the oppressed. Following her journey from middle-class student to Black Panther to political prisoner, these writings provide an intimate view of a woman wrestling with the issues of her time—the troubled legacy of the Panthers, misogyny in the movement, her decision to convert to Islam, the incarceration of outspoken radicals, and the families left behind. Her account unfolds with immediacy and passion, showing how the struggles of social justice movements of the past have paved the way for the progress—and continued struggle—of today. With a preface by Bukhari's daughter, Wonda Jones, a forward by Angela Y. Davis, and edited by Laura Whitehorn, The War Before is a riveting look at the making of an activist and the legacy she left behind. Title......Page 3 Copyright......Page 4 Contents 1......Page 6 Contents 2......Page 7 Preface......Page 9 Foreword......Page 13 Introduction......Page 19 1. Coming of Age......Page 47 2. Testimony......Page 64 3. Marriage Contract......Page 80 4. What is Security?......Page 82 5. Enemies and Friends......Page 89 6. On the Question of Sexism Within the Black Panther Party......Page 98 7. “Islam and Revolution” Is Not a Contradiction......Page 110 8. We Too Are Veterans......Page 125 9. This Is Worth Fighting For......Page 133 10. On the Question of Political Prisoners......Page 142 11. Building Support for Political Prisoners of War Incarcerated in North America......Page 150 12. Talks on the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Struggle......Page 165 13. Lest We Forget......Page 181 14. CBS Tries the New York Three......Page 202 15. Talking About Assata Shakur......Page 214 16. Free Mumia Abu-Jamal!......Page 230 17. COINTELPRO and the Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal......Page 235 18. Safiya Interviews Albert Nuh Washington......Page 242 19. Letter for the Parole of Jalil Muntaqim......Page 248 20. Q&A on Jericho 98......Page 252 21. Debate......Page 262 22. Kamau Sadiki......Page 286 Afterword......Page 295 Index......Page 299 Preface / by Wonda White Jones Introduction / by Laura Whitehorn Coming of age (1979, with afterwords from 1980, 1994, and 2002) Testimony : experiences in the Black Panther Party (1988 and 1989) What is security? And the ballot or the bullet...revisited Enemies and friends : resolving contradictions On the question of sexism within the Black Panther Party (1993) "Islam and revolution" is not a contradiction We are also veterans : PTSD in the Black Panter Party (1991) This is worth fighting for (after 1981) On the question of political prisoners (after 1984) Building support for political prisoners of war incarcerated in North America (1997) Talks on the Black Panter Party and the Black liberation struggle, Chicago (1991) Lest we forget (after 1981) CBS tries the New York 3 (1988) Talking about Assata : interview with Mark Holder (1990s) Free Mumia Abu-Jamal! Speech at a rally (1995) COINTELPRO and the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal (1996) Safiya interviews Nuh Washington on WBAI (2000) Letter for the parole of Jalil Muntaqim (2002) Q&A on Jericho, Crossroads Chicago (1998) Debate: Should we grant amnesty to America's political prisoners? (1998) Defending Kamau Sadiki (Freddie Hilton) (2002) Afterword / by Mumia Abu-Jamal. Preface / by Wonda White Jones Foreword by Angela Y. Davis Introduction / by Laura Whitehorn Coming of age : a Black revolutionary Testimony : experiences in the Black Panther Party Marriage contract : Safiya A. Bukhari and Michael M (Ashanti) Alston What is security? And the ballot or the bullet ... revisited Enemies and friends : resolving contradictions On the question of sexism within the Black Panther Party "Islam and revolution" is not a contradiction We too are also veterans : post-traumatic stress disorders and the Black Panter Party This is worth fighting for On the question of political prisoners Building support for political prisoners of war incarcerated in North America Talks on the Black Panter Party and the Black liberation struggle Lest we forget CBS tries the New York three Talking about Assata Shakur Free Mumia Abu-Jamal! COINTELPRO and the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal Safiya interviews Albert Nuh Washington Letter for the parole of Jalil Muntaqim Q & A on Jericho 98 Debate: should we grant amnesty to America's political prisoners? Kamau Sadiki : injustice continues ... Afterword / by Mumia Abu-Jamal. In 1968, Safiya Bukhari witnessed an NYPD officer harassing a Black Panther for selling the organization’s newspaper on a Harlem street corner. The young pre-med student felt compelled to intervene in defense of the Panther’s First Amendment right; she ended up handcuffed and thrown into the back of a police car. The War Before traces Bukhari’s lifelong commitment as an advocate for the rights of the oppressed. Following her journey from middle-class student to Black Panther to political prisoner, these writings provide an intimate view of a woman wrestling with the issues of her time—the troubled legacy of the Panthers, misogyny in the movement, her decision to convert to Islam, the incarceration of out spoken radicals, and the families left behind. Her account unfolds with immediacy and passion, showing how the struggles of social justice movements have paved the way for the progress of today. >*The War Before* traces Bukhari’s lifelong commitment as an advocate for the rights of the oppressed. Following her journey from middle-class student to Black Panther to political prisoner, these writings provide an intimate view of a woman wrestling with the issues of her time—the troubled legacy of the Panthers, misogyny in the movement, her decision to convert to Islam, the incarceration of out spoken radicals, and the families left behind. - [publisher](https://www.feministpress.org/books-n-z/the-war-before) The author traces her lifelong advocacy for the rights of the oppressed. These writings provide an intimate view of a woman wrestling with the issues of her time: the legacy of the Panthers, misogyny and racism in the movement, her decision to convert to Islam, the incarceration of outspoken radicals, and the cost to their families left behind From the Black Panthers to political prisoners, one woman's politics paves the way for today's breakthroughs