Black Fire: The Making of an American Revolutionary

by Nelson Peery and nelson-peery

Book Overview

A personal account of a soldier's political awakening. The author describes his childhood in rural Minnesota, his encounters as a teenage adventurer on freight trains, and his tour of duty as a soldier in the all-black 93rd Infantry Division.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1565841581
• ISBN13: 9781565841581
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: New Press
• Length: 340 Pages
• Weight: 2.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Former Comrade speaks out.

As a former member of the Communist Labor Party, a member of its first Central Committee, Organizational Secretary on the East Coast and Member of the Detroit City Committee. I read with great interest Nelson's first part of his autobiography. Nelson has been a revolutionary leader for the last 40 plus years and it is illuminating to understand more of where he came from and how he grew to be the sterling leader that he has been. This book helps us see much of what we have all to long ignored and that is the class aspects of the "Black Struggle", the civil rights movement and the development of the labor movement. I remember Nelson preaching for several hours at a mass meeting in Detroit in 1973 and being overwhelmed at his charisma, his vision and his ability to arouse solidarity in his listeners. It is extremely helpful to know more about how he became the thinker and leader that he has been. I split from the Communist Labor Party in 1978 but never changed my view that Nelson Peery and General Baker were true leaders of the class struggle in the US.

Black Fire

Mr. Peery's biography is simply "good reading". I was moved by the testimony of a man whose life and experiences directly reflect the trials of american life during this period of our history.

Great marriage of personal, political, historical in story.

This book is exciting because how it shows the connection because one man's personal and political life. Nelson Peery is a great storyteller, and demonstrates honestly how his life experiences led to strong political choices. It's also one of those cases where a person's (auto)biography tells something about America's history.A fascinating, entertaining story that truly educates.