Assata Shakur from revolution to r/evolution 5

“I Believe In The Fire Of Love And The Sweat Of Truth”  Assata Shakur

Assata Shakur (nee JoAnne Chesimard) was only 26  and a Member of the Black Liberation Army when she escaped to Cuba after being convicted of killing a New Jersey state law officer. She always asserted that she had not held a gun that day and that her arms were raised at the time the officer was shot. At her trial doctors testified to the fact that the wounds she suffered showed that her arms were in fact raised. As a member of the Black Liberation Army (BLA) she had been arrested ten times and tried and the charges were always either dismissed or she was acquitted or there was a hung jury, except in the final case when an all-white jury swiftly convicted her. This was despite evidence showing that it would have been physically impossible for her to have shot the officer and the fact that there was absolutely no evidence against her.  Her conviction rested on the fact that she was on the scene at the time of the killing. Three members of the BLA helped her escape from the Clinton Correctional Facility for women and Marilyn Buck, another freedom fighter, aided in Shakur’s escape to Cuba and Buck ended up spending over 25 years incarcerated for this and other acts related to her BLA support efforts. Buck was granted a compassionate release and died of cancer two weeks After her release.

“Nobody in the world, nobody in history, has ever gotten their freedom by appealing to the moral sense of the people who were oppressing them.” from “Assata Shakur: An Autobiography”

Assata Shakur died September 25th after an extended illness at the age of 78. She spent her time in Cuba writing and teaching. Despite the United States government offering a $100,000 reward which grew to $1,000,000 reward, and at its peak was a $2,000,000 reward for her capture, Assata Shakur lived free until she died. She always referred to herself as, “a 20th century escaped slave.” Her story is complex and inspiring. Her principles around revolution, freedom, the power of the people, and love were unwavering. I encourage you to read her memoir, “Assata”  and watch the beautiful film documentary “Eyes of the Rainbow”

“It is our duty to fight for our freedom.
It is our duty to win.
We must love each other and support each other.
We have nothing to lose but our chains.”
― Assata Shakur

“this is the 21st century and we need to redefine r/evolution. this planet needs a people’s r/evolution. a humanist r/evolution. r/evolution is not about bloodshed or about going to the mountains and fighting. we will fight if we are forced to but the fundamental goal of r/evolution must be peace.

we need a r/evolution of the mind. we need a r/evolution of the heart. we need a r/evolution of the spirit. the power of the people is stronger than any weapon. a people’s r/evolution can’t be stopped.”

Assata Shakur had one daughter, conceived while she was on trial and delivered while incarcerated. This is her statement on her mother’s death:

“At approximately 1:15 PM on September 25th, my mother, Assata Shakur, took her last earthly breath. Words cannot describe the depth of loss that I am feeling at this time. I want to thank you for your loving prayers that continue to anchor me in the strength that I need in this moment. My spirit is overflowing in unison with all of you who are grieving with me at this time. Sending much love and appreciation to you all,” Kakuya Shakur

While looking for images for this post I came across a very nice one-minute video montage. I encourage you to watch it before Trump’s regime takes over TikTok.

For several years I taught a class titled “World Poets of Resistance” Assata Shakur was one of the poets presented. I end this with one of her poems

No One Can Stop The Rain


Watch, the grass is growing. 
Watch, but don't make it obvious. 
Let your eyes roam casually, but watch! In any prison yard, you can see it - growing. 
In the cracks, in the crevices, between the steel and the concrete, 
out of the dead gray dust, 
the bravest blades of grass shoot up, 
bold and full of life. 
Watch. the grass is growing. 
It is growing through the cracks. 
The guards say grass is against the Law. 
Grass is contraband in prison. 
The guards say that the grass is insolent. 
It is uppity grass, radical grass, militant grass, terrorist grass, they call it weeds. 
Nasty weeds, nigga weeds, dirty, spic, savage indian, wetback, pinko, commie weeds - subversive! And so the guards try to wipe out the grass. 
They yank it from its roots. They poison it with drugs. They maul it, They rake it. 
Blades of grass have been found hanging in cells, 
covered with bruises. "apparent suicides 
The guards say that the GRASS IS UNAUTHORIZED DO NOT LET THE GRASS GROW. 
You can spy on the grass. You can lock up the grass. 
 You can mow it down, temporarily. 
But you will never keep it from growing. 
Watch, the grass is beautiful. 
The guards try to mow it down, but it keeps on growing. 
The grass grows into a poem. 
The grass grows into a song. The grass paints itself across the canvas of life. 
And the picture is clear and the lyrics are true, and the haunting voices sing so sweet and strong that the people hear the grass from far away. 
And the people start to dance, and the people start to sing, and the song is freedom. 
Watch, the grass is growing. 
Assata Shakur  

Assata Shakur Presente!