Assata

Overview

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. This 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 of government 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 Xand the works of Maya Angelou. Two years after her conviction, Assata Shakur escaped from prison. She was given political asylum by Cuba, where she now resides.

Details

Publisher

Zed Books

Published

2001

Pages

274

Language

EN

Categories

Biography & Autobiography / General, Biography & Autobiography / African American & Black, Biography & Autobiography / Arab & Middle Eastern, Biography & Autobiography / Historical, Biography & Autobiography / Political, Biography & Autobiography / Women, Biography & Autobiography / Criminals & Outlaws, Biography & Autobiography / Social Activists, Political Science / Political Process / Leadership, Political Science / Political Process / Political Advocacy, Social Science / Cultural & Ethnic Studies / General, Social Science / Minority Studies, Social Science / Women's Studies, Social Science / Black Studies (Global), True Crime / General, Political Science / Political Process / General

ISBN-13

9781556520747