Common Sense Media Review
By Kyle Jackson
,
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Informative, inspiring history of the Black Power movement.
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What's the Story?
REVOLUTION IN OUR TIME: THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY'S PROMISE TO THE PEOPLE is a sweeping overview of the revolutionary Black Power organization. Author Kekla Magoon traces Black freedom struggles from slavery through the assassinations of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., which convinced many activists that nonviolent tactics were no longer working. Following Malcolm X's "by any means necessary" rhetoric, student activists in Oakland, Calif., founded the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense to police the police in their communities, urge armed resistance to White violence, and spread socialist solidarity. The Panthers quickly expanded from a local organization to a massive nationwide network. Though their public image was of Black men with Afros and weapons, the heart of the movement was really their "survival programs"—free breakfasts, clinics, and educational programs funded by community donations—primarily organized by women, who were the majority of party membership in later years. This book then shows how local and federal law enforcement relentlessly attacked the party through harassment, jailing, and violence. COINTELPRO, a massive FBI operation, infiltrated the party to create internal disarray, while police raids grew increasingly violent, resulting in the imprisonment, exile, and/or assassination of Panther leaders. By the late '70s, the Black Panther Party was decimated, and it collapsed in 1982. Yet the "embers" of their revolutionary fire have fed contemporary movements like Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter. Magoon calls on young radicals to learn from this formidable organization that demonstrated the power of revolutionary resistance and revealed the terrifying lengths governments will go to suppress it.
Is It Any Good?
Equal parts compelling and comprehensive, this book is a welcome and much-needed educational resource for teachers and students who want to expand their understanding of Black history. In addition to providing a solid introduction to the pivotal moments and larger themes of the Black freedom struggle, Revolution in Our Time draws particular attention to the radicalism of the late 1960s and early 1970s, and the reactionary forces that lined up to destroy it. Author Kekla Magoon offers helpful profiles of many of the leading edge figures within the movement, including Huey P. Newton, Fred Hampton, Eldridge Cleaver, and Elaine Brown, as well as non-Panther allies like Angela Davis and Assata Shakur. For those unfamiliar with the period, there is a useful glossary and timeline in the appendices. Magoon also includes an extensive bibliography to encourage further reading. As a starting point or as a supplement to existing Black history curricula, the book is sure to be an incredibly useful resource.
Stylistically, Magoon's skill as a storyteller is matched by her commitment to underscoring the idealism of the Panthers and the Black Power movement. Readers will walk away inspired by the incredible organizing and immense sacrifices made by the Panthers in order to challenge the powers that be in an unjust society. By bridging the stories of the civil rights movement and the Black Power politics of the 1960s to flashpoint moments of contemporary activism, Magoon also offers a call-to-arms for young people to be active, get organized, and raise the banner of revolution that was first hoisted by the BPP. As she writes in a later chapter, "the story of the Panthers is not only an oft-overlooked chapter of history, but a potent reminder that there is still significant work to be done. The civil rights movement that we often call 'past' remains very much part of the present. What does the future hold?" While the painful saga of the Black Panther Party provokes many difficult questions, it's clear that learning about their history is an important place to start for any modern movement for radical social change. Magoon's book is a fantastic jumping off point for students, activists, and teachers alike.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party's Promise to the People can add to our understanding of American history. Why is it important to continue the story of the civil rights movement beyond the standard accounts of Martin Luther King Jr. and the nonviolent demonstrations of the early 1960s? Why do you think the story of Black Power is less commonly included in standard history textbooks?
What are some books, songs, or movies that reveal more about the late 1960s era of Black Power? How did art and media coverage contribute to the social justice movements of that time period? How do they contribute today?
What do radical activists mean when they talk about "revolution," and why do you think the revolutionary message had so much appeal in the 1960s and '70s? Do you agree with the author that the seeds of revolution planted by the Panthers may be in the process of blooming in the current day?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : History
- Topics : Activism , History
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Candlewick Press
- Publication date : November 23, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 18
- Number of pages : 400
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Awards : ALA Best and Notable Books , Coretta Scott King Medal and Honors
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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