Morning Breaks

by Bettina Aptheker

Book Overview

On August 7, 1970, a revolt by Black prisoners in a Marin County courthouse stunned the nation. In its aftermath, Angela Davis, an African American activist-scholar who had campaigned vigorously for prisoners' rights, was placed on the FBI's "ten most wanted list." Captured in New York City two months later, she was charged with murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy. Her trial, chronicled in this "compelling tale" (Publishers Weekly), brought...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801485975
• ISBN13: 9780801485978
• Release Date: May 1999
• Publisher: Cornell University Press
• Length: 328 Pages
• Weight: 0.92 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

WRITTEN UNDER DISCIPLINE

This book is undoubtedly rewarding reading, and yet it very much strikes the informed reader as having been created under [Communist Party, USA] discipline. As Aptheker notes in her introduction, she was a remember of the CPUSA's national commmittee when she wrote this book in 1973; it was first issued by the party's International Publishers two years later. Ironically, Aptheker lauds the socialist countries, especially the USSR, throughout her narrative. It's deeply regretable that Aptheker and her comrades protested the political incarceration of Davis and other U.S. militants and yet passively supported the repression meted out to Soviet and Czech dissidents during the same period. During an official visit to Czechoslavakia in 1972, Davis herself insisted that imprisoned rebels of the 1968 Prague Spring "deserved what they got" and should remain behind bars. As you read this book, I encourage you to keep the duality of such positions foremost in your mind.

The Trial that should never have been

A fascinating account of the legalmanuvering that quite possibly savedthe life of this extrordinary woman.The fact is there should never havebeen a trial in the first place. Asidefrom that we are given an inside viewof the the strategy invoked by thethe defense team. Howard Moore andMargaret Burnham are the mainlineplayers in the defense team. Angela'ssister Fania headed up the nationalmovement. I was most impressed withthe tremendous outpouring of support formall over the country. The book goesinto great detail cocerning Angela'sconnection with the Soledad brothersIt was her interest in their trialthat started this whole farce in thefirst place. If you believe as I dothat this beautiful woman was singledout because her views ran contraryto those of Richard Nixon and RonaldReagen then you will love this book.It wil make you mad and yet you willsee that perhaps justice can prevailafter-all

The Morning Breaks

Once you get past the communist/revolutionary rhetoric of the 60's-70's, a portrait of a bright, intelligent human being is exposed.The case of Angela Davis is important for many reasons - but most importantly the right to free speech and to believe as you wish. That is what makes this country great.