Die Nigger Die!: A Political Autobiography of Jamil Abdullah al-Amin [Paperback]

H. Rap Brown (Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin) (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2002

More than any other black leader, H. Rap Brown, chairman of the radical Black Power organization Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), came to symbolize the ideology of black revolution. This autobiography—which was first published in 1969, went through seven printings and has long been unavailable—chronicles the making of a revolutionary. It is much more than a personal history, however; it is a call to arms, an urgent message to the black community to be the vanguard force in the struggle of oppressed people. Forthright, sardonic, and shocking, this book is not only illuminating and dynamic but also a vitally important document that is essential to understanding the upheavals of the late 1960s. University of Massachusetts professor Ekwueme Michael Thelwell has updated this edition, covering Brown’s decades of harassment by law enforcement agencies, his extraordinary transformation into an important Muslim leader, and his sensational trial.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A powerful autobiographical and revolutionary statement . . . written with precision and a poetic flow of language." -- Gilbert Osofsky, Chicago Daily News

About the Author

H. Rap Brown is now the Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin. Although his revolutionary sentiments remain undimmed, he now leads more than 25 Muslim communities from his headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and has been a frequent speaker at universities and Islamic organizations. He lives in Atlanta.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Lawrence Hill Books (April 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556524528
• ISBN-13: 978-1556524523
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #603,714 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic on Black liberation, March 22, 2003

By 

Komozi Woodard "Komozi Woodard, Sarah Lawrenc... (Bronxville, New York United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Die Nigger Die!: A Political Autobiography of Jamil Abdullah al-Amin (Paperback)

When H.Rap Brown's classic autobiography was first published, he was former chair of SNCC, the leading Black liberation group in the United States. Back then, I used this book as an introduction to the Black Power movement. Rap Brown was a grassroots leader, and he spoke the language of the grassroots community. In my estimate, H. Rap Brown was one of the most successful political agitators of the black revolt. With the exception of Malcolm X, there were few that could match his effectiveness of moving people in the streets. For that precise reason, Brown, now Imam Jamil Al-Amin, has been a key victim of repression, for fighting for black liberation.

17 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Richard Pryor meets Malcolm X, June 19, 2002

By 

Andre M. "brnn64" (Mt. Pleasant, SC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Die Nigger Die!: A Political Autobiography of Jamil Abdullah al-Amin (Paperback)

While rightfully cited as an articulation of Black anger in the 60s, there are portions of this book that are difficult to take seriously. Rap/El-Amin's hilarious descriptions of pilfering items in Lyndon Johnson's White House, the story of his being stopped by the Louisiana cops for wearing ragged clothes, his refusal to eat or drink anything in prison for 43 DAYS (last time I checked in biology class, no human could go that long without water) etc. come off like wild tall tales told by one of Richard Pryor's characters. Even when the book is serious, there is never a dull moment. His observations on Ebony magazine, poor whites, and the explaination of the book's title, will make you laugh as well as think. Oh yeah, check out his "Rap" early on in the book, the contents of which would make NWA blush!

The recent noteriety of Rap/El-Amin adds a somber note to the proceedings, but in the meantime, read this. You can see why this wild, controversial, and colorful book was so popular in the late 1960s. A cross between Richard Pryor and Malcolm X! Certainly one of the most entertaining of the Black Power manifestos.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Truth, April 25, 2009

By 

Louis J. Landry (New York City) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Die Nigger Die!: A Political Autobiography of Jamil Abdullah al-Amin (Paperback)

I haven't finished book yet but I remember a sentence when H.Rap Brown stated that he believed there'd come a time when he would be able to get bailed out of jail. The sad thing is that it came to pass. Great book written by a great and courageous man!