A Taste of Power: A Black Woman's Story

A must have book for people who want to learn about resistance

I read Huey P. Newton's autobiography- Revolutionary Suicide- and Elaine's autobiography really completes the picture of what the Black Panthers were all about. It's pros and pitfalls and most importantly a well- encompassing picture of her struggle as well as the struggle of the Black Panthers. I recommend this book to any and every one. It is really amazing.

Having a love of black history and women, this book blew me away in the five days I read it. My history project in college this past year, was based on the black panthers. Having to find my information for the project, I read many books, based on the revolutionaty panthers. "A Taste of Power, blew me away, and made me feel proud to be black and a WOMAN!

I am a 20 year old college student and only accidentally came across "A Taste of Power" while looking for the autobiography of the much more recognized Angela Davis. The book was incredible to say the least. Though only a small segment of the book discussed sexism in the party, the message was overwhelming. Male chauvinistic attitudes, to a large extent, destroyed the party. Elaine, though seemingly strong-minded, also struggles with the self-worth issues that are so common amongst black women. She tried hard to fit into the schema of black womanhood that others (whites, her mother, black men) had created for her. She moves quickly through the ranks of the party, experiencing a taste of power, but in the end she wonders if she lost herself. READ IT!

People may get side-tracked by the seemingly poor decisions made by the author in her youth. Overall, the book is so much more than that. To concentrate on the other trivial things will cause one to miss the gift that Ms. Brown gives us: the benefit of her experience and growth. Here was a woman who pioneered the way for all women, black, white, Asian, Hispanic etc., to become politically empowered as she had been. She was fearless, and devoted to the welfare of all minorities, children and women. I recommend this book to any woman who cares about the fate of the underdog in America.