An insider's view of the rise and fall of the Black Panther Party (BPP) by David Hilliard. Hilliard was enthralled by Huey Newton, was underwhelmed by Bobby Seale, and found Eldridge Cleaver to be divisive. The book could have been improved by providing more dates for the seminal events in the Party's history, and more about the party's platform and programs. The first hand recounting of the police/FBI efforts to eliminate the BPP was an eye-opener although less brutal than the Fred Hampton Story, and to some extent, was paralleled by deadly fights with other black power or black gang leaders. The BPP had much internal discord around working with other organizations with similar goals, such as the SNCC. What sets this book apart from the many others that I have read was the drug use, which probably was more responsible for the destruction of the BPP than anything else as paranoia rampaged. A very sad ending to a wonderful vision of empowerment, education, and self-determination. ( )

The was the most honest and useful book I've read on the Black Panthers. Well written, too. ( )