Assata

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 criminalise and suppress black nationalist organisations. This intensely personal and political account reveals a sensitive and gifted woman, far from the fearsome image of her that is projected by the powers that be. With wit and candor, 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.

'A deftly written book ... A spellbinding tale.' -The New York Times Book Review 'A sober, restrained, but forceful recollection ... A must read 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

Following her escape from prison in 1979, Assata Shakur was granted asylum in Cuba and has been on the run ever since.

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