Die, nigger, die!

Die, Nigger, Die! was written by H. Rap Brown, later known as Jamil Al-Amin, during his tenure as the Minister of Justice for the Black Panther Party. Originally published in 1969, the book serves as a foundational political manifesto of the Black Power movement, articulating a visceral critique of systemic racism, white supremacy, and the institutional violence faced by Black Americans. The text is noted for its provocative title and uncompromising tone, which reflected the revolutionary urgency and the radical ideology prevalent within the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the broader Black Panther organization at the time.

The book’s design and delivery were intended to challenge the status quo and act as a call to action for Black self-determination. By centering the narrative on the lived experience of structural oppression, Al-Amin sought to dismantle the facade of American racial progress. Upon its release, the work was received as a polarizing document, praised by supporters as an essential articulation of revolutionary struggle while simultaneously drawing significant condemnation and scrutiny from law enforcement and political conservatives, mirroring the intense national climate surrounding the author’s own public life and legal challenges during that era.