Book Review: The Black Panther Party A Graphic Novel History
Graphic novels aren’t just for comic book characters, and I’m excited for this trend of non-fiction graphic novels that detail important aspects of Black history. Read on for a review of The Black Panther Party: A Graphic Novel History by David F. Walker and Marcus Kwame Anderson.
Black Panther Party: A Graphic Novel History Review
The Black Panther Party: A Graphic Novel History is an important book that educates children on the organization which gained prominence in the late 1960’s. Founded in Oakland California, the organization was in response to police brutality that many Black people faced across the United States. The book carefully details the major incidents, members and enemies of the organization including detailing the COINTELPRO campaign by the FBI which ultimately fractured the organization.
There are few aspects of The Black Panther Party that make it stand apart from other BPP children’s books, one being the mention and illustrations of the 41 civil rights workers who were killed between 1955 and 1968. I studied those photos for awhile, learning names that I had never heard of, people who were fighting for equality but taken from this world too soon. I also liked the coverage of the female Black Panther members like Ericka Huggins, Elaine Brown and Tarika Lewis who at the tender age of 16 was the first woman ever to join the organization.
One thing to note is that the book has several text-heavy pages however this is understandable since there is so much history and information crammed in this graphic novel. The Black Panther Party: A Graphic Novel History is a fascinating read, weaving facts and bold illustrations to tell the story of one of the most influential Black organizations in history.
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