Bobby Seale’s Seize the Time: The Story of the Black Panther Party and Huey P. Newton is somewhat misnamed. A more accurate title would reflect that the text is more of a fragment of Seale’s autobiography than anything else. For example, Seale devotes a fair amount of verbiage to his trial as one of the Chicago 8, which of course has nothing to do with either the Black Panthers or Huey Newton.

Seale’s distinctive voice comes through loud and clear. This is likely due to the fact that the text is based on transcribed tapes from Seale. I think Seale was given a tape recorder and then told to just “let ‘er rip.” This contributes to the book’s disorganized feel.

Although the text notes that “every word was written by Seale,” I think this choice of compositional methods was a mistake. Although it does present Seale in an authentic voice, and the narrative flows smoothly, the text occasionally is rambling and repetitive. I think that a stronger editorial hand would have helped the book immensely without losing the authentic quality of Seale’s style.

The book is a compelling and fast read, although contemporary readers may have a little bit of trouble adjusting to the slang Seales uses throughout his book. The meaning usually becomes clear through analysis of the context.

The book does not shy away from the more controversial aspects of the Black Panthers, e.g., the underlying threat of violence (even though most violence was directed *at* the Black Panthers rather originating *from* the Black Panthers). The Black Panthers saw Malcolm X as their role model, and concurred with his position of refusing to reject violence particularly in the context of self-defense. The Marxist economic analysis adopted by the Black Panthers also becomes apparent.

Although Seale was co-founder with Huey Newton of the Black Panthers, the book is incomplete insofar as a history of the Black Panthers goes, or even a biography of Huey P. Newton for that matter. It clearly was an essential source for Black Against Empire, and I urge readers to first look into this latter book for the bigger picture view before taking up the “portrait” views presented by the numerous autobiographical works published by former Black Panthers.

Much of the material here was repeated — in a different style — in Black Against Empire. Nevertheless, by necessity, a fair amount of detail had to be left out, material that is supplied by reading Seize the Time. This additional material supplements and enriches Black Against Empire, providing the reader with a more complete picture of the Black Panthers, Huey Newton, and Bobby Seale.

Although flawed, this book is a gripping read, and it’s essential for those interested in gaining a more complete picture of the Plack Panther Party. Recommended for any reader interested in the Black Panthers or this period of American history.

Seize the Time by Bobby Seale is not the smoothest written memoirs as you might have noticed reading other reviews, but do not let that deter you from looking into this book. He and Huey P Newton were the founders of the Black Panthers which was founded on October 15th 1966 when the two of them wrote down the partys 10 point platform. By 1969 both of them were in jail, and it was at this time Bobby Seale started writing this book. There are several reasons this book is worth reading to understand the times, and sadly realize things have not changed much.

Seale writes about how the rich business men have extreme influence over the government. (anything change in the last +40 years ?)

He writes about how the police come into black communities and simply harass them with beatings, killings and false arrests. (anything change in the last +40 years? I have not check statistics, but I assume a higher percentage of African Americans are in prison today than back in 1970 - so it is worse)
What the Panthers proposed was community police, with the officers living in the neighborhoods they serve. This way they know the people on a personal level. Bobby Seale wrote about how when he was being transported cross country by car for a trial, he witnessed a multiple car wreck in a small town. When the sheriff arrived he was civil to all parties involved, knew them by name and treated them as human beings. These were all whites, but this was exactly the type of community police force he and the Panthers were working towards.

The Black Panthers were against racism, and therefore had issues with blacks that were racist against whites. The main attorney (Charles R Garry of Armenian decent) that worked day and night helping out Black Panther members was white, and black nationalist groups strongly disapproved of any dealings with whites. The Panthers worked with a white group called Peace and Freedom, because that group was trying to educate whites in the white community to understand how racism manifests itself and how to end it. The conflict that the Panthers had with some other black groups was that the Panthers were about a class struggle not a race struggle.

The Panthers picked up guns to protect themselves and their community from police brutality. They would patrol the streets armed, but would be painfully careful that everything they did with the guns was legal. The cops hated it, and would try to bully and intimidate them on the streets but those Panthers stood their ground. We all know, whether it is 1968 or 2012, exercising your 2nd amendment right could easily get you gunned down by the pumped up police. I would like to point out that ALL crime levels today are roughly at the level of 1970. Meaning crime is way down - so why is it today the police need to be so militarized with heavier fire power, armored cars, increased budgets etc etc.

Eldridge Cleaver was in jail but was later release by Judge Raymond Sherwin who ruled that Eldridge was being held for political reasons ! But at the same time Bobby Seale was sentenced to 4 years in prison for contempt of court. It was Judge Hoffman, who also had Bobby Seale bound and gagged in the courtroom for many days, because Seale was requesting in a disruptive manner to have attorney Charles Garry represent him. There were 7 other defendants in this case, all white, who also were disruptive but they were not bound and gagged. Plus, when convicted the whites had to do about 25 days in jail - not 4 years.

For the first time I now have a clear understanding how the government at a local level and/or a national level can neutralize a group or movement by simply arresting the known leaders - even if it is for trumped up charges, fictitious charges, or minor infractions. The government does not need to have a conspiracy to carry this out - in the case of the Black Panthers they can have racist police officers do the dirty work. The police gladly harassed them with arrests that were often thrown out by the judge. But the government achieves what it wants and that is wasting the time of the leaders of a movement, by making them to have to constantly show up in court fighting to prove their innocence. If the government lucks out, it is able to put the individual in jail - taking him/her completely out of circulation. Look at what has happened to wikileaks once the US government started pursuing Julian Assange - they have been able to put him out of action, and with that, wikileaks is becoming irrelevant. If the Occupy movement takes off, watch the authorities try to round up the leaders. Ironically, the Occupy movement so far is leaderless so the government for now does not have any clear targets.

This is the first book I have read about the black movement during the 1960s - 1970s. I have ordered up Revolutionary Suicide, Soledad Brother, Angela Davis: An Autobiography, The Wretched of the Earth (because Seale and Newton praised it - so have to see what they are talking about) , A Taste of Power: A Black Woman's Story

Very interesting history which is still relevant, unfortunately, today

1st off i've always been fascinated by black panther party a group of powerful sistahs and brothas who stood up for what they believed in. Much respect for the party sad that we're still going through rasicim. I love black Panthers!

It's a history lesson facilitated by a Black Panther. Seale provides a personal account of events related to the law, guns, incarceration, and more. In 2016, the struggle continues.

Good book but I'm still reading it.

Excellent reading

This was such an amazing history lesson for myself as well as for my college coworkers. There was so much to learn and I'm happy I made this very beneficial investment.

Nice book