Assata
Books | Biography & Autobiography / General
4.7
(486)
Assata Shakur
On May 2, 1973, Black Panther Assata Shakur (aka JoAnne Chesimard) lay in a hospital, close to death, handcuffed to her bed, while local, state, and federal police attempted to question her about the shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike that had claimed the life of a white state trooper. Long a target of J. Edgar Hoover's campaign to defame, infiltrate, and criminalize Black nationalist organizations and their leaders, Shakur was incarcerated for four years prior to her conviction on flimsy evidence in 1977 as an accomplice to murder.aThis intensely personal and political autobiography belies the fearsome image of JoAnne Chesimard long projected by the media and the state. With wit and candor, Assata Shakur recounts the experiences that led her to a life of activism and portrays the strengths, weaknesses, and eventual demise of Black and White revolutionary groups at the hand ofagovernment officials. The result is a signal contribution to the literature about growing up Black in America that has already taken its place alongside "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" and the works of Maya Angelou.aTwo years after her conviction, Assata Shakur escaped from prison. She was given political asylum by Cuba, where she now resides."
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Author
Assata Shakur
Pages
320
Publisher
Chicago Review Press, Incorporated
Published Date
1999-11
ISBN
1613745613 9781613745618
Community ReviewsSee all
"Most important part of this book was Assata describing how a political underground actually works beyond the sensationalization and romance. Beyond that it’s her story of coming of age, becoming member of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense and BLA(Black Liberation Army), her trial, and subsequent exile. No she should not be remembered for being a civil right leader she is beyond that. "
"Assata’s passion to fight for Black lives while being a Black woman and facing her own battles before and after educating herself to become liberated is horrifyingly amazing for lack of a better word. I feel like sometimes we often forget our icons from powerful movements are also regular people, with regular lives. In a way her autobiography humanized her for me, overall this is a really good read!! "
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