The Woman Behind the Name

Assata Shakur, born Joanne Chesimard on July 16, 1947, in Jamaica, Queens, grew up during an era when racial injustice defined daily life for Black Americans. Her political awakening began in college, where she became active in the Civil Rights and Black Power movements.

Shakur joined the Black Panther Party, working on community-based programs like free breakfasts and health clinics. Later, she aligned with the Black Liberation Army (BLA), a group that sought to defend Black communities and resist government oppression by any means necessary.

A Revolutionary in America

During the 1970s, the U.S. government viewed Assata Shakur as one of its most dangerous enemies. She faced multiple criminal charges related to the BLA — nearly all of which were later dropped or resulted in acquittals.

But her life changed forever on May 2, 1973, when a shootout erupted on the New Jersey Turnpike, killing a state trooper and wounding Assata. Despite questionable evidence and inconsistent testimony, she was convicted of murder in 1977 and sentenced to life in prison.

Many activists and historians have long argued that she was a target of COINTELPRO, the FBI’s counterintelligence program created to disrupt and dismantle Black liberation movements.

Escape and Exile

In 1979, with the help of allies from the Black Liberation Army, Assata escaped from a New Jersey prison. Her supporters called it liberation; the government called it a crime.

She eventually made her way to Cuba, where Fidel Castro granted her political asylum. From there, she lived quietly but remained outspoken, writing essays and giving limited interviews. In 1987, she published her powerful memoir, Assata: An Autobiography, now considered a must-read in Black studies and activist circles.

For decades, the U.S. government labeled her a domestic terrorist, placing a $2 million bounty on her capture. Despite this, Cuba refused to extradite her, citing her persecution as political.

Death in Exile

On September 25, 2025, Assata Shakur passed away in Havana, Cuba, at the age of 78. Her daughter, Kakuya Shakur, confirmed her death in a public statement, saying, “My mother died in peace, surrounded by love, her spirit unbroken.”

Cuban officials described her passing as the end of “a courageous life dedicated to justice.” News of her death sparked international reaction — tributes poured in from activists, artists, and community leaders around the world.

The FBI, which still had her listed as one of America’s most wanted fugitives, has yet to comment formally on her death.

Tupac’s Godmother — Her Legacy Lives On

Assata Shakur was more than a political figure; she was a spiritual guide to generations of freedom fighters and artists. She was also the godmother of Tupac Shakur, whose own music and activism carried forward many of her revolutionary ideals.

Her words continue to inspire the struggle for liberation:

“I believe in the right of Black people to be free. I believe in the right of the oppressed to fight back.”

Today, her influence can be heard in hip-hop lyrics, seen in protest movements, and felt in classrooms where her story is studied as part of the living history of resistance.

Why Assata Still Matters

Assata Shakur’s passing marks the end of a chapter — but not the end of her fight. She lived and died believing that freedom was a human right worth any sacrifice.

Her life forces America to confront a painful truth: that the line between revolutionary and criminal has always been drawn by those in power. Whether celebrated as a hero or condemned as a fugitive, Assata Shakur changed the course of Black liberation history.

“A wall is just a wall and nothing more at all. It can be broken down.”