Civil RightsHistory

Assata Olugbala Shakur

A Life of Activism and Controversy

Assata Olugbala Shakur, born JoAnne Deborah Bryon on July 16, 1947, in New York City, is a figure whose life has been marked by activism, controversy, and a quest for justice. Known for her involvement in the Black Liberation Army (BLA) and connections to the Black Panther Party (BPP), Shakur’s life story is a complex narrative of struggle against racial oppression, legal battles, and eventual exile. Shakur’s early years were shaped by her family’s move to Wilmington, North Carolina, following her parents’ divorce in 1950. This period saw her alternating between living with her mother in New York and relatives in Wilmington, experiences that likely influenced her later activism. Her educational journey took her to the Borough of Manhattan Community College and subsequently to City College of New York. It was here that Shakur became deeply involved with Black Nationalist organizations, which played a pivotal role in shaping her political views.

During her time at City College, Shakur attended meetings with the Golden Drums, an organization where she met her future husband, Louis Chesimard. These meetings introduced her to black historical figures who resisted racial oppression, fueling her passion for activism. She became involved in various movements, including student rights, anti-Vietnam War protests, and the black liberation movement. In 1971, she adopted the name Assata Olugbala Shakur, meaning “she who struggles” and “love for the people.” Shakur’s involvement with the Black Panther Party began during a trip to Oakland, California, in 1970. Upon returning to New York City, she joined the Harlem branch of the BPP, where she worked in their breakfast program. However, she grew disillusioned with the BPP due to their reluctance to collaborate with other black organizations and left in 1971 to join the Black Liberation Army.

The BLA was branded an anarchist group by the FBI, and in 1972, a warrant was issued for Shakur’s arrest in connection with crimes allegedly committed by the organization. The most significant incident occurred on May 2, 1973, when Shakur and two BLA companions were stopped by state troopers on the New Jersey Turnpike. The encounter resulted in the deaths of Zayd Shakur and State Trooper Werner Foerster. Assata Shakur was charged with first-degree murder and other crimes. Shakur’s trial was fraught with controversy. She was tried seven times and eventually convicted of Trooper Foerster’s murder in 1977. Despite her assertion that a gunshot wound had partially paralyzed her arm, rendering her incapable of firing a weapon, she was sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years. Forensic evidence supporting her claims did not sway the jury.

In a dramatic turn of events, Shakur escaped from the maximum-security unit of the New Jersey Clinton Correctional Facility for Women in 1979. She fled to Cuba in 1984, where she was granted political asylum and reunited with her daughter Kakuya Amala Olugbala, whom she had given birth to while imprisoned. In 2013, on the 40th anniversary of Trooper Foerster’s death, the FBI placed Shakur on its Most Wanted Terrorist list, making her the first woman and second domestic terrorist to be included. Her bounty was increased to two million dollars. Today, Assata Shakur remains in exile in Cuba. Her life has been depicted in songs, documentaries, and various literary works. Despite the controversies surrounding her, Shakur continues to be a symbol of resistance and a subject of ongoing debate regarding justice and racial equality in America.

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