Remembering Assata Shakur: The Inspiring Journey of a Black Liberation Icon Who Exiled in Cuba at 78

On September 25, Assata Shakur, a prominent figure in the fight for Black liberation, passed away in Havana, Cuba, at the age of 78. According to Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, her death was attributed to natural causes related to aging. Shakur spent many years in exile after escaping from prison, where she had been serving a life sentence for the murder of a New Jersey state trooper in 1977.

Her daughter, Kakuya Shakur, shared the news on Facebook, expressing profound grief. “Words cannot describe the depth of loss that I’m feeling,” she wrote.

Born JoAnne Deborah Byron on July 16, 1947, in Queens, New York, Shakur faced racial segregation during her childhood, which influenced her worldview. She dropped out of high school and took on low-wage jobs, but her life took a turn in 1964. A conversation about communism with African students sparked a change in her beliefs, pushing her to question the narratives she had been taught. In her memoir, Assata: An Autobiography, she wrote, “Only a fool lets somebody else tell him who his enemy is.”

During the 1960s, Shakur attended community college and became involved with the Golden Drums Society, advocating for Black studies in education. In 1967, she married activist Louis Chesimard but later divorced. She then joined the Black Panther Party, where she sought to clarify the true enemies facing the Black community. “Not the white people,” she wrote, “but the capitalistic, imperialistic oppressors.”

In 1971, Shakur changed her name to Assata Olugbala Shakur, intertwining her identity with meanings that resonate across cultures: “she who struggles” in Swahili, “love for the people” in Yoruba, and “the thankful” in Arabic. However, she became disillusioned with the Black Panther Party, feeling they did not engage adequately with Black history. She subsequently joined the Black Liberation Army, which sought Black freedom through armed resistance.

Shakur faced numerous charges from 1971 to 1973, including bank robbery and murder, but many were dropped or dismissed. On May 2, 1973, during a traffic stop, a violent exchange occurred between Shakur and police, leading to the deaths of two individuals. In 1977, she was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. Two years later, she escaped with the help of her comrades, eventually finding refuge in Cuba.

In 2013, Shakur became the first woman on the FBI’s most-wanted terrorists list. While she faced significant backlash and vilification from some, many activists and movements have drawn inspiration from her life and writings.

Shakur’s legacy continues to resonate today, especially as movements for racial justice gain momentum. Recent surveys indicate that 60% of young people in the U.S. believe in the importance of social activism. Figures like Shakur remind us that struggles for justice and equality have deep roots and require both inspiration and determination to continue.

For more insights on her impact, you can read her memoir or explore resources from organizations focused on civil rights.

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