On November 2, 1979, an extremely well trained collection of courageous and fully trained people carried out a well executed plan to actually break into a maximum security prison and break Assata Shakur out. Wrongly imprisoned by this state apparatus who's primary problem with her was her principled and unshakable leadership of forces dedicated to fighting this empire to its knees, Sister Assata, 40 years later, is still free from the clutches of U.S. imperialism.
Its that last element that makes it so important for us to acknowledge, celebrate, and educate around these historic events. So much of imperialism's success in controlling the masses of people, particularly those masses living within the U.S., is in convincing you that any thought, effort, idea, or dream you have about challenging the capitalist system is ill-fated before your concept can even evolve into reality. In other words, they wish to convince all of us that they are invincible. This is the reason they went to such effort to not only murder Black Panthers, American Indian Movement members, Crazy Horse and Ogala warriors, Africans rebelling against slavery, etc., They always made a point of always displaying their "victories" against us. Showcasing the bodies of our fallen warriors in a sick and perverted effort to invoke fear among us. Those of us who were raised in the 60s, 70s, etc., know the results of this. Once we initially entered into African nationalist and revolutionary politics and action, even student organizations of this type, our parents reacted with intense fear and concern. Their concerns stemmed from seeing Fred Hampton paraded out after being brutally murdered by this criminal state and our parents didn't want that to happen to us. No where in these discussions with my parents did they ever consider that we can win and not always be the bodies on the street. No where did it occur them that we can organize effectively enough so that our bodies aren't the only ones dropping.
That's why Assata is so important because her story is one where we clearly win. She's a clear role model for our youth, especially non-men. She was certainly the role model we held up for our daughter growing up and at 32 today, she still uses her inspiration from Assata Shakur in all the activist work she does. This cannot be overstated in an era where soldiers who do nothing except carry out the immoral whims of imperialism are praised consistently on such sham "holidays" like Veterans Day. In the case of Assata Shakur we have someone who stood up for poor people. Working people. African people. Women, the oppressed. A true heroine. And, the fact she is still living, and living not just anywhere, but socialist Cuba, another thorn in the side of imperialism, makes our enemies that much more desperate to try and diminish her legacy. That's why they still to this day have her on their 10 most wanted list with a $2 million bounty on her head. Today, in 2019, this is true.
Its up to us to make sure we use this 40th commemoration to declare that imperialism is not invincible. We can use the effective organizing model carried out by our comrades to build upon it to challenge this entire state. Sister Assata should be our living symbol that this can and should happen. And, Cuba should be our living example of how we can begin to build the type of society that is much better than this rathole imperialist reality we find ourselves in today. Celebrate. Encourage people to realize that we don't have to just accept imperialism and we certainly don't have to adhere to their rules in fighting against them. Our comrades and Assata didn't and she is there as living proof of that. So, let as many people know about that as you possibly can. Tell them that if they wish to work in the capitalist electoral arena, than do it with principled integrity. Build movements that can hold this vicious system accountable to our interests, but for those of us who wish not to reform the empire, but destroy it, there are other options. Revolutionary options. This is the example Assata gives us a peek into and regardless of what imperialism says or convinces you or everyone else, her existence proves there's no denying that.
Its that last element that makes it so important for us to acknowledge, celebrate, and educate around these historic events. So much of imperialism's success in controlling the masses of people, particularly those masses living within the U.S., is in convincing you that any thought, effort, idea, or dream you have about challenging the capitalist system is ill-fated before your concept can even evolve into reality. In other words, they wish to convince all of us that they are invincible. This is the reason they went to such effort to not only murder Black Panthers, American Indian Movement members, Crazy Horse and Ogala warriors, Africans rebelling against slavery, etc., They always made a point of always displaying their "victories" against us. Showcasing the bodies of our fallen warriors in a sick and perverted effort to invoke fear among us. Those of us who were raised in the 60s, 70s, etc., know the results of this. Once we initially entered into African nationalist and revolutionary politics and action, even student organizations of this type, our parents reacted with intense fear and concern. Their concerns stemmed from seeing Fred Hampton paraded out after being brutally murdered by this criminal state and our parents didn't want that to happen to us. No where in these discussions with my parents did they ever consider that we can win and not always be the bodies on the street. No where did it occur them that we can organize effectively enough so that our bodies aren't the only ones dropping.
That's why Assata is so important because her story is one where we clearly win. She's a clear role model for our youth, especially non-men. She was certainly the role model we held up for our daughter growing up and at 32 today, she still uses her inspiration from Assata Shakur in all the activist work she does. This cannot be overstated in an era where soldiers who do nothing except carry out the immoral whims of imperialism are praised consistently on such sham "holidays" like Veterans Day. In the case of Assata Shakur we have someone who stood up for poor people. Working people. African people. Women, the oppressed. A true heroine. And, the fact she is still living, and living not just anywhere, but socialist Cuba, another thorn in the side of imperialism, makes our enemies that much more desperate to try and diminish her legacy. That's why they still to this day have her on their 10 most wanted list with a $2 million bounty on her head. Today, in 2019, this is true.
Its up to us to make sure we use this 40th commemoration to declare that imperialism is not invincible. We can use the effective organizing model carried out by our comrades to build upon it to challenge this entire state. Sister Assata should be our living symbol that this can and should happen. And, Cuba should be our living example of how we can begin to build the type of society that is much better than this rathole imperialist reality we find ourselves in today. Celebrate. Encourage people to realize that we don't have to just accept imperialism and we certainly don't have to adhere to their rules in fighting against them. Our comrades and Assata didn't and she is there as living proof of that. So, let as many people know about that as you possibly can. Tell them that if they wish to work in the capitalist electoral arena, than do it with principled integrity. Build movements that can hold this vicious system accountable to our interests, but for those of us who wish not to reform the empire, but destroy it, there are other options. Revolutionary options. This is the example Assata gives us a peek into and regardless of what imperialism says or convinces you or everyone else, her existence proves there's no denying that.
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