Assata Shakur, a prominent African American liberation activist who received political asylum in Cuba, passed away at the age of 78 on September 25, as confirmed by the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry cited “health conditions and advanced age” as the cause of her death. Shakur’s daughter, Kakuya Shakur, expressed her grief in a Facebook post, stating, “Words cannot describe the depth of loss that I am feeling at this time.”
Born JoAnne Deborah Byron on July 16, 1947, in Queens, New York, Shakur lived in both North Carolina and New York City, where she encountered the challenges of segregation and racial discrimination. She later adopted the name Assata Olugbala Shakur, which translates to “she who struggles,” reflecting her political commitment to activism.
Shakur pursued education at various institutions, including Borough of Manhattan Community College and the City College of New York, where she became involved in Black liberation politics in the late 1960s. She emerged as a leading figure in the Black Panther Party and subsequently the Black Liberation Army (BLA), organizations formed in response to systemic racism, police violence, and economic inequality faced by African Americans. Her focus encompassed racial justice, prison reform, and community health initiatives.
Her activism attracted scrutiny from U.S. law enforcement agencies, particularly the FBI, which targeted her under its COINTELPRO program aimed at disrupting Black liberation leaders and organizations.
On May 2, 1973, Shakur was involved in a confrontation on the New Jersey Turnpike that resulted in the death of state trooper Werner Foerster. Shakur was critically injured during this incident and was later convicted of first-degree murder in a controversial trial, despite maintaining her innocence. Her supporters pointed to questionable evidence, systemic racism, and political motivations surrounding her prosecution.
In 1979, Shakur escaped from prison with the help of allies. In 1984, she was granted political asylum in Cuba, which recognized her as a political refugee due to the racial and political persecution she faced in the U.S.
From her exile, Shakur continued to advocate against oppression and authored her autobiography, “Assata: An Autobiography” (1987), which has become a significant work in Black feminist, anti-racist, and activist literature globally. In this text, she shares her life experiences and vision for justice, inspiring generations of liberation movements.
Shakur symbolizes enduring resistance against state repression in the 20th and 21st centuries, representing resilience and the quest for dignity, justice, and freedom. Her words—particularly her famous closing statement from her autobiography: “It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains”—continue to resonate within movements advocating for racial, gender, and global justice.
Following the announcement of her death, Black Lives Matter Grassroots Inc., an organization focused on racial justice, paid tribute to Shakur, stating on Instagram, “May our work be righteous and brave as we fight in her honor and memory.”
Tags: Assata Shakur, Black liberation, exile in Cuba, civil rights activist, revolutionary leader
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