Assata Shakur
Assata Shakur: A Revolutionary Life
Full Name and Common Aliases
Assata Shakur, born JoAnne Deborah Byron, is also known by her married name, JoAnne Chesimard. She is widely recognized by her chosen name, Assata Shakur, which she adopted during her involvement with the Black Liberation Movement.
Birth and Death Dates
Assata Shakur was born on July 16, 1947. As of the latest available information, she is still alive.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Assata Shakur is an American by nationality. She is a former member of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army. Her roles have included being a political activist, author, and a symbol of resistance against racial injustice.
Early Life and Background
Assata Shakur was born in Jamaica, Queens, New York City, and raised in a working-class family. Her early life was marked by the racial tensions and civil rights struggles of the 1950s and 1960s. Shakur attended the Borough of Manhattan Community College and later transferred to the City College of New York, where she became actively involved in the Black Liberation Movement. Her experiences with racial discrimination and her exposure to the civil rights movement deeply influenced her political views and activism.
Major Accomplishments
Assata Shakur's major accomplishments are intertwined with her activism and her role in the Black Liberation Movement. She became a prominent member of the Black Panther Party, an organization that sought to address systemic racism and police brutality. Shakur's commitment to these causes led her to join the Black Liberation Army, a group that advocated for armed struggle against racial oppression.
Notable Works or Actions
One of the most notable events in Assata Shakur's life was her involvement in a 1973 shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike, which resulted in the death of a state trooper. Shakur was convicted of murder in 1977, a conviction she and her supporters have long contested, citing racial bias and unfair trial practices. In 1979, she escaped from prison and eventually fled to Cuba, where she was granted political asylum.
Shakur is also the author of an autobiography, "Assata: An Autobiography," published in 1987. The book provides a personal account of her life, her political beliefs, and her experiences with the American justice system. It has become an influential work, offering insight into the struggles of the Black Liberation Movement and the broader fight for racial justice.
Impact and Legacy
Assata Shakur's impact and legacy are profound and complex. She remains a controversial figure, celebrated by some as a revolutionary hero and condemned by others as a criminal. Her life and actions have sparked debates about racial justice, police brutality, and the role of armed resistance in social movements. Shakur's story continues to inspire activists and scholars who seek to understand and address systemic racism and inequality.
Her legacy is also evident in the cultural and political discourse surrounding her. Shakur's name and image have been invoked in various movements, including the Black Lives Matter movement, as symbols of resistance and the ongoing struggle for civil rights.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Assata Shakur is widely quoted and remembered for her unwavering commitment to the fight against racial injustice and her articulate expression of revolutionary ideals. Her writings and speeches resonate with those who seek to challenge systemic oppression and advocate for social change. Shakur's life story, marked by resilience and defiance, serves as a powerful reminder of the complexities and challenges of the struggle for racial equality.
Her quotes often reflect her deep understanding of the socio-political landscape and her belief in the power of collective action. They continue to inspire new generations of activists who draw strength from her words and her enduring legacy as a symbol of resistance and hope.
Quotes by Assata Shakur
When i think of how racist, how Eurocentric our so-called education in amerika is, it staggers my mind. And when i think back to some of those kids who were labeled “troublemakers” and “problem students,” i realize that many of them were unsung heroes who fought to maintain some sense of dignity and self-worth.
The abnormal, the sick, the vicious have become more and more interwoven into the violent culture of the United States. Into the way news is seen, into the way movies are seen.
I think that one of the problems that exists in the United States and in many places in the world is that people don’t believe that they can make a difference. So a lot of times we’re defeated before we even start. We’ve become consumers of a world vision, of Kentucky Fried Chicken, of McDonalds.
I believe in self-defense and self-determination for Africans and other oppressed people in America.
I decided on Assata Olugbala Shakur. Assata means “She who struggles,” Olugbala means “Love for the people,” and i took the name Shakur out of respect for Zayd and Zayd’s family. Shakur means “the thankful.
We had to learn that we’re beautiful. We had to relearn something forcefully taken from us. We had to learn about Black power. People have power if we unite. We learned the importance of coming together and being active.
I couldn’t see how we could seriously struggle without having a strong sense of collectivity, without being responsible FOR each other and TO each other.
Even though the National Jury Project had done a study of Middlesex County and had found that eighty-three percent of the people had heard about my case in the media and seventy percent had already formulated an opinion about my guilt, the kourt maintained that i could receive a fair trial.