The saying is: Knowledge is power. The secret is: Knowledge, applied at the right time and place, is more than power. It's magic. This is the story of the Black Panther Party: Huey and Bobby. Eldridge and Kathleen. Elaine and Fred and Ericka. The committed party members. Their supporters and allies. The Free Breakfast Program and the Ten-Point Program. Their book is about Black nationalism, Black radicalism, about Black People in America. A comprehensive overview and analysis of the history and politics of the Black Panther Party, told for younger readers.

"This is an Arthur A. Levine book"--Title page verso.

Prologue --Part one : In the beginning : Cruisin' -- Huey -- Bobby -- A long freedom struggle -- Rally -- Malcolm X -- Boiling point -- Watts -- The Black Panther -- Part two : Take a stand : Eldridge -- Airport -- North Richmond -- The Panthers investigate -- Mulford's bill -- Sacramento -- Ten-point program -- Newark -- Detroit -- Part three : The Panthers rise : Blasted off the streets -- Kathleen -- Alliances -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. -- Lil' Bobby -- Ericka, Elaine, an L.A. -- Seattle -- New York -- Pigs -- Black studies -- Part four : The glory : Fred and Illinois -- A widespread inspiration -- Free breakfast -- Liberation schools -- Eldridge in Algiers -- Montreal and Scandinavia -- John and Bunchy -- Cointelpro -- Part five : Unstoppable : Chicago Eight -- Who can you trust? -- Los Angeles raid -- David speaks -- Who we are -- Diverse support -- Huey's release -- An emerging split -- Part six : The fall : The split widens -- Changing times -- Consolidation -- Crossroads -- No other life -- Coda.