Revolution often appears as the last refuge of those seeking change, holding an ideal vision of a better tomorrow, yet it invariably treads a path paved with turbulence and sacrifice. “Kingdom of No Tomorrow,” honored with the PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction, delves deeply into this profound paradox. In this gripping novel, author Fabienne Josaphat unfolds the intimate stories of several Black Panther members during the tumultuous late 1960s, illuminating the personal tolls they endure. Josaphat masterfully balances the themes of gender inequality within the Black Power movement, carefully weighing the perils and promises of taking revolutionary strides amid a period rife with crises and suspicion.
The story introduces us to Antoinette “Nettie” Boileau, a young woman of 20, immersed in her public health studies in 1968 Oakland. Having faced the tragedy of losing her father—a physician and revolutionary figure murdered by a feared Haitian paramilitary group—Nettie, alongside her Tante Mado, left Haiti for California. Her childhood, marked by solitude, fuels her resolve to embrace healing, not only through medicine but also through the fundamentals of nutrition and sunlight. Inspired by her father’s compassion, she dreams of donning his mantle as a doctor.
This ambition finds her serving at a local clinic, where, along with her fellow student Clia Brown, Nettie conducts house visits, collecting valuable insights on their patients’ well-being. Their work is a seamless fusion of their educational pursuits and a shared activist zeal for the era they inhabit.
However, an encounter during a seemingly routine visit spirals into violence, awakening Nettie to the pressing need for direct community intervention. Clia, already ingrained in the Black Panther Party—a political group pushing for the emancipation of Black Americans—believes strongly in such action. Their initiatives extend beyond health services, forging a readiness for more aggressive forms of resistance, should it be necessary.
Nettie’s past places her acutely aware of the potential costs of choosing to engage. Spurred by Clia’s activism, Nettie finds herself diving deeper into political engagement, attending lectures, and even traveling to Southern California to hear the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Their journey leaves an indelible mark, creating a permanent bond, though neither expresses plainly the full depth of their feelings for one another.
It’s a testament to the times that Josaphat crafts, moments filled with tension and magnetic attraction. At a fictional address by Black Power leader Stokely Carmichael, themes of undying love for one’s community emerge, an affection Clia insists is as much about action as emotion. For Nettie and Clia, their shared experiences become more than friendship—they are tethered in a profound ‘sistahood’—a unity that soon faces trials.
Despite underscoring the strength of sisterhood, Josaphat doesn’t shy away from exploring conflicting dynamics within the party. Melvin Mosley, a charismatic Vietnam veteran, and fellow Panther, enters the scene embodying an assertive energy that exudes power and authority. His presence fascinates Nettie, who is drawn to his strong sense of duty and enigmatic charm, even as she senses an underlying tension.
Driven to prove herself within the movement, Nettie’s involvement deepens. She becomes a regular face at the free breakfast programs, practices her shooting skills with Melvin, and immerses herself in the history classes and the fervor demanded by the party. Her academic life suffers as she indulges in the drama revolving around Melvin, simultaneously attracted to the cause and the man himself.
Caught in the crossfire of her duties and her desires, Nettie grapples with the dichotomy of pursuing her ambitions as a future doctor against the backdrop of her father’s revolutionary ideals. As freedom becomes the battle cry of their times, conventional bonds like marriage and romance take a backseat to the overarching goal of revolution.
In the swelling tide of change, Clia decides to leave for Florida, chasing her dreams outside the confines of their Oakland ties and leaving Nettie to navigate her complex feelings for Melvin alone. Their intense affair spirals into something more profound within the structured chaos of their shared mission, blurring lines between public duty and personal devotion.
In this riveting narrative, Nettie’s dedication to Melvin and the revolutionary cause takes center stage. United by impending parenthood, they relocate to Chicago, where the stakes sharpen under the watchful eyes of federal surveillance. The city, alien in its all-consuming intensity, strains Nettie’s already fragile stability. The encroaching chaos, marked by radical alliances like the Weathermen and the dangers within, threatens to unravel her world.
Josaphat paints this turbulent era with eloquence, grounding her story in meticulous historical context while capturing the fervor and volatility of revolutionary zeal. Woven throughout are Nettie’s memories—a reminder of simpler times and a life enriched by matriarchal bonds untainted by the grit of revolutionary conflict.
Many sought the movement for its direction or sense of purpose, but for Nettie, the advocacy for justice and empathy had always been inherently part of her. Salvation finally comes through an unexpected shift, both emotional and geographical, propelling her to a newfound sense of peace—a recognition that aligns with the ongoing wave of activism, hinting at a vision just shy of utopia.
In her powerful novel, Josaphat exposes the heavy burden of violent social upheaval while holding onto the promise of a world made better, reminding readers that, even in chaos, there lies a sliver of hope for serenity.
Lauren LeBlanc serves on the board of the National Book Critics Circle.
