Claudia Jones at the offices of the West Indian Gazette in Brixton, London, in 1962. the annual celebration of all things black, Stokely Speaks: From Black Power to Pan-Africanism by Kwame Ture, Garvey and Garveyism by Amy Jacques Garvey, Assata: An Autobiography by Assata Shakur, The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon, Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins. 14 The … It is no exaggeration to say that this book, more than any other, changed my life. To this day, Shakur lives with political asylum in Cuba. Revolution in Guinea by Amílcar Cabral (1979)The first task in reviving radical politics is convincing people that revolution is possible.

For Black History Month, Kehinde Andrews shares some of the best books from the radical voices which are such a vital part of black political thought, Last modified on Fri 4 Oct 2019 10.47 EDT.

To truly appreciate Malcolm X, listen to his speeches. Subsequent collections of speeches highlight the version of Malcolm that the editor wanted to portray. Beyond Containment by Claudia Jones (2010)A collection of speeches and writing from one of the most under-appreciated black radical activists. Stokely Speaks: From Black Power to Pan-Africanism by Kwame Ture (1971)This was the first book I read from my parents extensive bookshelves, mostly because of its comical front cover with Stokely Carmichael (later Kwame Ture) in sunglasses, holding a shotgun over his head. 2. So getting down to 10, is not just hard, its pretty impossible. Zora Neale Hurston is one of the greatest Black writers across time, and for that reason alone, this book is necessary reading. Hill Collins provides a blueprint for bridging the gap between the ivory tower and black communities in the form of black feminist thought. Garvey and Garveyism by Amy Jacques Garvey (1963)The Universal Negro Improvement Association, founded in 1914, grew into largest and most influential black political organisation of all time.

9. Jones founded the first black newspaper in the nation, the West Indian Gazette, and started what became Notting Hill Carnival in the aftermath of the 1958 race riots. In this lazy caricature we have dismissed one of the most important political movements, and the aim of my book, Back to Black, is to reclaim black radicalism, which is as vital for this generation as it has ever been. Her work is also a reminder of the role that black activists have played in the development of Marxism. Fanon lays bare the hypocrisy of the purveyors of horrendous colonial violence, who insist that the oppressed be peaceful in their resistance. To order a copy, go to guardianbookshop.com.

6. 8. Across Africa, the Americas and the Caribbean, there was never any passive acceptance of the system, with revolts led by Zumbi (Brazil), Bussa (Barbados) and Sam Sharpe (Jamaica). Assata: An Autobiography by Assata Shakur (1987)Shakur’s story has continued to inspire a generation of activists. The Autobiography of Malcolm X, written by Alex Haley, is the most guilty of this cultivation of his image, purposefully leaving out the account of Organisation of Afro-American Unity, the very project Malcolm was working at when he died. Marcus Garvey is most credited with the rise of the organisation, but black women were the backbone of the movement, representing more than half of the membership. So keep in mind, these choices are a mixture of some classics and some new takes on Black history and the list is … Born in Trinidad, Jones was deported from the US because of her communism to Britain, where she made an immediate impact. It was almost impossible to choose between Huey P Newton’s Revolutionary Suicide; Bobby Seale’s Seize the Time; and Elaine Brown’s A Taste of Power for an account from the Panthers themselves. ... UK…

Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins (2000)Universities were the sites that produced the very racism we are fighting, and they maintain white privilege today. Convicted of killing a state trooper in 1973, a charge she has always denied, after years of abuse and giving birth in prison she managed to escape in 1979. The Color Purple book. Ten books that do provide a good basis for understanding the politics of black radicalism are: 1. Add these Black history books to your reading list to learn more about the history of Black people in the United States and to continue your antiracist education. 7. He is not featured on the list because there is no single book that captures the range and depth of his social theory. As we enter into the annual celebration of all things black for a month, it is the perfect time for a reminder of the diversity in black political thought. October is Black History month in the UK, an annual series of events that celebrates the contribution that black people have made to the history of this country. • Back to Black: Retelling Black Radicalism for the 21st Century by Kehinde Andrews is published in paperback by Zed Books. The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon (1961)A classic text by an influential theorist of liberation. Amy Jacques Garvey was indispensable to the organisation and curated the memory of her husband in both the Philosophy and Opinions and in Garvey and Garveyism, which also includes her own writing. The Revolution Has Come by Robyn Spencer (2016)The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense was one of the most important liberation movements of the 20th century, but also had an intellectual impact.

10. Black Jacobins by CLR James (1938)In 1804, the people of Haiti completed the only successful slave rebellion in history, liberating themselves from the shackles of France. After reading how he connected the black American situation with the global struggle for freedom, nothing ever looked the same again. The book also presents a forensic analysis of the limits of national struggle and builds on Fanon’s Black Skin, White Masks, which examined the necessity of a revolutionary identity to bring about social change.

James charts the history of the revolution and all of the factors that went into its success. A man at a protest against the incarceration of members of the Black Panthers in New York in 1969. 3. Revolution in Guinea is an account on the roots and practice of the liberation struggle, which ultimately succeeded after Cabral’s death in 1973.

Malcolm X best articulates black radicalism, which seeks nothing short of a revolution to overturn the racist social order. To order a copy, go to guardianbookshop.com. • Back to Black: Retelling Black Radicalism for the 21st Century by Kehinde Andrews is published in paperback by Zed Books. https://www.blackenterprise.com/best-black-books-black-history-month At its peak it had millions of members across the African diaspora, long before the days of social media or even widespread use of the telephone. The politics of black radicalism are misunderstood and misrepresented, often written off as anti-white, violent and led by men intent on dominating women.

5. In remembering Malcolm, we have enshrined the stereotype of black radicals, while ignoring the political programme. Although the revolution ultimately failed to transform Guinea, it is important to learn from these experiences of struggle. Zami: A New Spelling of My Name is an autobiography by the iconic poet Audre Lorde, and a love letter to the black women in Lorde’s life.According to the New York Times, with this book Lorde is credited with birthing a new genre of memoir called "biomythography," which combines history, biography, and myth. Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana, which had the first successful liberation struggle in what is known as sub-Saharan Africa, presents the best case and vision of the African revolution. However, Spencer’s book provides an excellent overview of the birth of the movement, its impact, and importantly the role of women, who comprised more than 60% of the party membership. Co-authored by one of the Black Lives Matter founders, this best-selling book draws upon personal experience and offers an intelligent, thought-provoking review of humanity, culture and race.

4. When it comes to Black history books, there are a whole lot to choose from. We have disagreed with each other more than we have with white people and there exist a number of different ways that we have understood and fought for liberation. By embracing the standpoint of the oppressed, even pampered academics can reach beyond our privileged location and engage in the struggles for liberation outside the hallowed walls of the university. Less than a lifetime ago, it was not clear that capitalism would survive the threat from communism and revolts across developing countries. Africa Must Unite by Kwame Nkrumah (1963)At the heart of black radicalism is the idea of the African revolution, a process that ultimately tears down colonial borders and creates a unified state that can provide for all people on the continent and in the diaspora. Free UK p&p on orders over £15. Read 15 051 reviews from the world's largest community for r… As well as an inspiration, she is a reminder that the system she fought against is alive and well.