by Angela Davis (Author), Assata Shakur (Author), Lennox S. Hinds (Author)
'Deftly written...a spellbinding tale.'
The New York Times
In 2013 Assata Shakur, founding member of the Black Liberation Army, former Black Panther and godmother of Tupac Shakur, became the first ever woman to make the FBI's most wanted terrorist list.
Assata Shakur's trial and conviction for the murder of a white state trooper in the spring of 1973 divided America. Her case quickly became emblematic of race relations and police brutality in the USA. While Assata's detractors continue to label her a ruthless killer, her defenders cite her as the victim of a systematic, racist campaign to criminalize and suppress black nationalist organizations.
This intensely personal and political autobiography reveals a sensitive and gifted woman. With wit and candour Assata recounts the formative experiences that led her to embrace a life of activism. With pained awareness she portrays the strengths, weaknesses and eventual demise of black and white revolutionary groups at the hands of the state. A major contribution to the history of black liberation, destined to take its place alongside The Autobiography of Malcolm X and the works of Maya Angelou.
Format: Paperback
Pages: 258
Edition: 2
Publisher: Zed Books Ltd
Published: 10 Jul 2014
ISBN 10: 1783601787
ISBN 13: 9781783601783
'Assata speaks to all of us'
Angela Davis, from the foreword
'Her writing in consistently defiant and witty ... Her hindsight and observations are vital in a society that's still stuck on how to live together ... essential reading for every political thinker concerned with race, and for every activist who is interested in creating a movement that grows.'
Reni Eddo-Lodge, author of Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race
'A deftly written book . . . A spellbinding tale.'
The New York Times
'Of all the great memoirs to come out of the Black Power Movement (Angela Davis, Bobby Seale, Amiri Baraka, Nina Simone), Assata is my favorite. I draw a lot of inspiration from the Black Power Movement, and the way that she describes her activism is overflowing with passion and heart.'
Zackary Drucker
'A sober, restrained, but forceful recollection. ... A must book for those interested in the 'revolutionaries' of the 1960s'
Choice
'A compelling tale of the impact of white racism on a sensitive and powerful young black woman.'
Library Journal