My People Are Rising

Let me start off by saying I am a collector of books. When I first saw this book, the cover sold me. A cool-looking brother leaning out of the front passenger seat of a police cruiser. He’s wearing the traditional black leather jacket and beret they wore in all the movies and documentaries I’ve seen growing up. “Great cover!” I thought, then told the cashier, “I’ll take it.”

Schools did a horrible job teaching us about this part of American history, so I spent my entire life thinking that the movie “Panther” by Mario Van Peebles was their complete story. Earlier this year, I read Assata Shakur’s autobiography and loved it (5 stars). I learned plenty from her. But this book gives you much more. You will learn more from this book than you will in any textbook, movie, or documentary I’ve seen.

Aaron Dixon was the Captain of the Seattle chapter. In this memoir, he tells you about how life was before joining, why he joined, gives vivid descriptions of his time as a Panther (which is action packed and reads like a movie), what destroyed their organization, and finally his life afterwards. I have other books on the Panthers, but for right now, this book will serve as my reference guide. I’m giving it four and a half stars.