The War Before: The True Life Story of Becoming a Black Panther, Keeping the Faith in Prison & Fighting for Those Left Behind

Name: The War Before: The True Life Story of Becoming a Black Panther, Keeping the Faith in Prison & Fighting for Those Left Behind
Price: 13.97 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.9 (60 reviews)
Author: Safiya Bukhari

by Safiya Bukhari

Memoir Biography Memoir

4.9 (60)

4.9 stars from 60 reviews

312 pages~5.2 hr readPublished by The Feminist Press at CUNYPublished 2010-02-01

$13.97Near peak price

Last checked: Jun 1, 2026

Price history: $0.99 – $15.15

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Price range: $0.99 – $15.15

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Perfect for you if...

You're drawn to firsthand accounts of the Civil Rights and Black Power movements, especially stories that challenge the official narratives.
You want to understand how ordinary people became radicals, and what it actually costs to resist systemic injustice.
You're interested in how faith, identity, and political conviction shape a person's entire life across decades of struggle and confinement.

Maybe not for you if...

You prefer uplifting stories with neat resolutions; Bukhari's account is honest about unfinished battles and the toll of resistance.
You're looking for a conventional political history rather than a deeply personal, reflective memoir.
You want to avoid heavy topics like incarceration, state surveillance, and the human cost of political activism.

About this book

A memoir by activist and political prisoner Safiya Bukhari documenting her lifelong commitment to advocating for the rights of the oppressed. In 1968, while a pre-med student, Bukhari witnessed an NYPD officer harassing a Black Panther selling the organization's newspaper in Harlem. She intervened to defend the Panther's First Amendment rights and was arrested. The War Before traces Bukhari's journey from middle-class student to Black Panther member to political prisoner. Her writings offer an intimate account of her wrestling with the issues of her era: the troubled legacy of the Panthers, misogyny within the movement, her conversion to Islam, the incarceration of outspoken radicals, and the families affected by these struggles. The memoir shows how past social justice movements have shaped the progress and ongoing struggles of today. The book includes a preface by Bukhari's daughter, Wonda Jones, and a foreword by Angela Y. Davis. It was edited by Laura Whitehorn.

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$0.99 – $15.15

Price has dropped 40 times over the last 5 years. Goes on sale roughly every 36 days. Typically stays discounted for 73 days.

Sales Rank

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Currently around #193K in the Kindle store — a niche title.

Rating & Reviews

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Currently 4.9★ from 60 reviews

Review activity has been quiet recently. Rating has remained stable at 5.0 over the tracking period.

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Based on past patterns, a price drop could happen soon. It typically goes on sale every 36 days and the last drop was 92 days ago. Typical discount: 93% off.

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