Assata Shakur

Assata Shakur

Introduction

“Assata Shakur: An Autobiography” by Angela Davis tells the story of a black woman activist, her experiences, and her perception of society. The author uses this book to highlight the themes of oppression and resistance that characterized American society at the time of Assata. Shakur describes the oppression she was exposed to and the experiences that came with it. For instance, after shooing of the Turnpike, she receives a physical abuse from New Jersey police officers who were handling her case. Shakur describes her trial as a complete fabrication, characterized by racism and bias. Although she respected the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) approach to resistance to racism, she chooses to go with the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation army because she shared in their approach of armed resistance to oppression. Assata talks about her desire to be a revolutionary. She agitates for social revolution as the pathway towards equity and fairness in American society, especially for the minority groups. The author uses the experiences from Assata Shakur’s life to highlight the challenges of racism in American society and how the minority groups organized themselves to rebel against the oppressive system.

Summary of the Book

The book tells the story of armed resistance against racism and the experiences that Assata went through during this time. The revolutionary Black Liberation Army originated from the Black Panther Party in the 1970s. This group aimed to use armed struggle to free black people from oppression and racism. Although the non-violent civil rights movements, led by Martin Luther King junior and other leaders in the 1960s, had eliminated racial segregation. However, it did not deal with the deep-seated racism to which the black people were treated. The government, controlled by the white majority, responded with force and other means to quell the revolutionary activities of Assata Shakur and the others. Shakur’s activist nature saw her kill a New Jersey state trooper in 1973. She was taken through a fabricated trial process with a predetermined outcome, she claims. Coupled with her harassment by the New Jersey police and the pathetic condition in prison, she develops a thick skin and commits her life to armed struggle for the freedom of all black people. Because of her rebellious nature, she escaped the prison and requested political asylum in Cuba, where she would live in peace and continue to participate in covert resistance activities.

Shakur talks about the inhumane treatment that the prison officers meted out on her while serving as a convict in different American prisons. The racist criminal justice and correctional system, while wanting to use her as an example to the other members of the armed movements, charged her with attempted murder, murder, and armed robbery. She claims that these accusations were unfairly labeled on her without giving her a fair trial to determine their accuracy beyond a reasonable doubt. Shakur was tortured and beaten by the prison officers. She was taken to an all-male jail with the aim of breaking her spirit. Also, she was placed under 24-hour surveillance with lights on, subjected to an unnecessary internal examination, and denied the right to legal representation (Davies 23). Shakur reports spending most of her time in solitary confinement. She also noticed that the majority of the people in prison were either Latinos or African Americans.

The character underwent numerous court trials between 1973 and 1977. The public pressure building up due to increased interest in her case forced the courts to clear her of all the other charges except murder. Angela Davis joined the other supports of Assata, including politicians and lawyers, to condemn the endemic racism in the American criminal justice system. In the early sections of the book, we learn that Assata had ditched her birth names, Jo Anne Byron, which she associated with slavery. Because of her truant nature, Shakur fell out with her mother at an early age.  She describes her teenage years as “hard-headed, stubborn, and under the impression that a grave injustice had been done to me” (Davies 11). As an adult, she had grown fearless. Standing up for injustice and demanding for her right.

Assessment of the Book

Angela Davies was successful in achieving the objectives of this book. She uses first-hand narration from Assata and other credible observers to recreate the life of this woman. Having been a keen observer of the events that transpired at that time, she is quick to relate the experiences that Assata narrates with that of the other members of the black community in America. The book talks about the operation of the Black Panther Party and the responses of the government to the conflicts. By giving direct examples from the court proceedings, Davies is providing the readers with the necessary information to help him, or Shakur to make judgments about the treatment of the colored communities by the American justice system. Therefore, she can support her theme that the American justice system was characterized by endemic racism.

Work Cited

Davies, Angela. Assata Shakur: An Autobiography. Lawrence Hill Books. 1988. Pdf