Angela Davies’ ‘If They Come In The Morning’ Significance

“If They Come In The Morning: Voices of Resistance” is a seminal collection edited by Angela Davis, offering a powerful testament to the struggles of Black political prisoners and activists during the late 1960s and early 1970s. This analysis explores its historical weight, thematic depth, and lasting impact.

Quick Answer

• “If They Come In The Morning” compiles essential documents, letters, and essays from Black political prisoners, providing direct accounts of state oppression and resistance during a pivotal era.
• Its significance stems from its raw documentation of systemic injustice, its articulation of radical political theory, and its enduring challenge to state power and racial inequality.
• The work is crucial for understanding the historical roots of contemporary movements for liberation and for appreciating the intellectual and personal fortitude of those who fought against oppression.

Who This Is For

• Students and scholars of Black history, political science, and critical race theory seeking primary source material on radical activism.
• Individuals interested in the history of incarceration and the U.S. justice system, particularly as it pertains to racial disparities and political dissent.

If They Come in the Morning...: Voices of Resistance

• Audible Audiobook
• Angela Davis - editor (Author) - Janina Edwards, David Sadzin (Narrators)
• English (Publication Language)
• 03/30/2021 (Publication Date) - Tantor Media (Publisher)

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What To Check First

• Historical Context: Understand that the collection was published in 1971, amidst intense political upheaval, widespread surveillance of activists, and a burgeoning movement for Black liberation.
• Key Figures: Familiarize yourself with Angela Davis’s role as editor and contributor, as well as other prominent voices like George Jackson, Elaine Brown, and the Soledad Brothers, whose writings are featured.
• Central Thesis: Recognize the collection’s central argument that many Black activists were unjustly imprisoned and that their struggles were inherently political, aimed at dismantling systemic oppression.
• Nature of the Content: Be prepared for direct, often unflinching accounts of state violence, legal injustices, and the psychological toll of imprisonment, presented as acts of resistance and political assertion.

Step-by-Step Plan to Understanding ‘If They Come In The Morning’ by Angela Davies

1. Engage with Angela Davis’s Introduction:

• Action: Read Davis’s introductory essay thoroughly.
• What to Look For: Note her personal connection to the individuals featured, her framing of the political climate, and her rationale for compiling these specific voices. Observe how she establishes the collection’s purpose and theoretical underpinnings.
• Mistake: Skimming or omitting the introduction, which provides essential context for understanding the subsequent essays and the overall message of resistance.

2. Analyze the Statements and Letters from Prisoners:

• Action: Read the direct communications from individuals like George Jackson, W.L. Nolen, and Ruchell Magee.
• What to Look For: Identify the specific grievances, the analysis of their legal situations as politically motivated, and their articulation of a vision for liberation. Pay attention to the intellectual depth and emotional urgency in their words.
• Mistake: Viewing these as mere personal appeals or apologies, rather than as sophisticated political manifestos and acts of defiance against an unjust system.

3. Examine the Legal and Political Frameworks:

• Action: Study the sections that discuss legal defenses, critiques of the judicial system, and broader political strategies.
• What to Look For: Understand the arguments made about the concept of “political prisoner,” the critique of the U.S. legal apparatus as a tool of oppression, and the calls for systemic change and self-determination.
• Mistake: Failing to grasp the theoretical rigor behind the arguments, which moves beyond individual cases to critique the foundational structures of power and inequality.

4. Identify Themes of Solidarity and Collective Action:

• Action: Observe how the contributors discuss their relationships with each other and the broader movement.
• What to Look For: Note instances of mutual support, shared analysis, and the emphasis on organized resistance as crucial for achieving liberation.
• Mistake: Reading the collection as a series of isolated incidents rather than as interconnected parts of a unified struggle for collective liberation.

5. Consider the Call to Resistance and Awareness:

• Action: Reflect on the implicit and explicit calls to action and awareness within the text.
• What to Look For: Identify how the authors urge readers to understand the nature of state power, to challenge injustice, and to engage in solidarity with those fighting for freedom.
• Mistake: Treating the book solely as a historical artifact, without recognizing its ongoing relevance as a catalyst for critical engagement with contemporary issues of racial justice and prison reform.

The Enduring Significance of ‘If They Come In The Morning’ by Angela Davies

This collection stands as a monumental work, offering an unvarnished perspective on the political repression faced by Black activists during a turbulent period in American history. The strength of “If They Come In The Morning” lies in its direct presentation of voices that were systematically marginalized and silenced. Through essays, letters, and legal documents, contributors articulate their experiences not as criminal acts, but as principled stands against systemic racism and state violence. For instance, George Jackson’s contributions powerfully illustrate the concept of the prison as a tool of political control, a theme that resonates deeply with contemporary discussions on mass incarceration. The immediate, often raw, nature of these testimonies provides a crucial takeaway: they compel readers to confront the brutal realities of power and injustice.

A significant failure mode for readers engaging with this text is the tendency to compartmentalize it as purely historical, thereby diminishing its ongoing theoretical and practical relevance. The collection is not merely a record of past struggles; it is a foundational document for understanding the persistence of racial injustice and the evolution of liberation movements. The arguments concerning the definition of political prisoners and the necessity of self-determination, as articulated by Davis and her contemporaries, remain remarkably pertinent. The disproportionate impact of the carceral system on Black communities, a central concern in the book, continues to be a critical issue today, underscoring the collection’s lasting power.

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Common Myths

• Myth: The book is solely a memoir of Angela Davis’s personal legal defense.
• Why it Matters: This narrow view overlooks the collective nature of the resistance documented and diminishes the voices of other significant contributors.
• Fix: Recognize that while Davis is central as editor and a contributor, the collection’s power derives from the diverse perspectives of numerous Black activists and political prisoners, offering a broader panorama of the movement.

• Myth: The historical context of the late 1960s and early 1970s makes the book irrelevant today.
• Why it Matters: This perspective fails to acknowledge the enduring nature of the systemic issues—racism, state violence, and mass incarceration—that the book addresses.
• Fix: Understand that the themes explored in “If They Come In The Morning” are not confined to a specific historical moment but are deeply interwoven with ongoing struggles for racial justice and human rights.

• Myth: The writings are primarily emotional outpourings lacking substantial political analysis.
• Why it Matters: This mischaracterizes the intellectual depth and strategic thought present within the collection, undervaluing its contribution to radical political theory.
• Fix: Approach the texts with an eye for the underlying political critiques, legal reasoning, and philosophical frameworks that inform the personal narratives and calls for systemic change.

Expert Tips

• Tip: Focus on the radical redefinition of “political prisoner.”
• Actionable Step: When reading, actively highlight and analyze passages where authors define themselves and others as political prisoners, contrasting this with mainstream legal definitions.
• Common Mistake to Avoid: Assuming a shared understanding of the term “political prisoner” without considering the specific, politically charged context presented in the book.

• Tip: Draw connections between historical critiques of the justice system and contemporary issues of mass incarceration.
• Actionable Step: After reading, research current data on U.S. incarceration rates, particularly for Black communities, and compare these trends to the historical analyses presented in the book.
• Common Mistake to Avoid: Treating the book as a purely historical document, neglecting to apply its insights to the ongoing realities of the American penal system.

• Tip: Emphasize the concept of self-determination as a core demand.
• Actionable Step: Identify and note phrases and sentences that articulate the desire for autonomy, freedom from external control, and the right to self-governance by Black communities.
• Common Mistake to Avoid: Dismissing these expressions as mere rhetoric, rather than recognizing them as fundamental political objectives central to the Black liberation struggle.

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Decision Rules

• If your primary goal is to understand the lived experience of Black political prisoners during the late 20th century, prioritize “If They Come In The Morning” for its direct, unmediated testimonies.
• If you are seeking a broad overview of the Black Power movement, consider this collection as a vital, foundational text that