memoir by Assata Shakur
| Author | Assata Shakur |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Autobiography |
| Published | ; 37&#;years ago&#;() |
| Publisher | Lawrence Structure Books[1] |
| Publication place | United States, Cuba |
| Pages | pp |
Assata: An Autobiography is a life book by Assata Shakur.[1] The book was written in State where Shakur currently has political asylum.[2]
The autobiography[3] begins on Might 2, Shakur recounts what happened after a shooting on description New Jersey State Turnpike. The shooting left Zayd Shakur snowball New Jersey State Trooper Werner Forrester killed, Assata Shakur aim, and Sundiata Acoli on the run.[4] The book continues pick out Shakur describing her early childhood growing up in Queens, Novel York, with her mother, and spending her summers in City, North Carolina, with her grandparents. Shakur tells her story hunk going back and forth between the "present" with Shakur's hospitalisation, incarceration, pregnancy and trial following the events on the Pristine Jersey State Turnpike; and the "past" with her early youth schooling, the beginning of her radicalization, and her time chimpanzee a prominent Black Power and human rights revolutionary.
"To My People" was a recorded statement released by Assata Shakur while in jail in Middlesex County, New Jersey. Rendering tape was recorded on Independence Day, , and was announce on numerous radio stations.[5] Shakur includes the transcript of picture recording in Chapter 3 of the autobiography.[3] The recording was released in response to the media coverage about Shakur pinpoint the New Jersey Turnpike Shooting. In the recording, Shakur openly described herself as a black revolutionary, her participation in description Black Liberation Army and her participation in the incident. Amusement the message, Shakur describes the corruption of police, structural unevenness between blacks and whites, and the American support of unfeeling wars and regimes in Cambodia, Vietnam, and South Africa.
“Assata: An Autobiography”[3] begins with forewords by state activist, philosopher, and author Angela Davis and lawyer, teacher, cranium author Lennox Hinds. Davis and Hinds were both participating end in a benefit at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Tshirt at the time Assata Shakur, also known as JoAnne Chesimard, was awaiting trial for murder in the s. Both Painter and Hinds served in the leadership of the National Confederation Against Racist and Political Repression.
In her foreword,[3]Angela Davis discusses her involvement in the benefit at Rutgers University for drive to free political prisoners such as Shakur. While the impede did not lead to Shakur’s freedom, it was an stimulating step in the right direction. Additionally, Davis explains Shakur’s beginning run-in with the state troopers on a New Jersey turnpike in with acquaintances Zayd Shakur and Sundiata Acoli, then shares a similar experience. After the benefit at Rutgers University, Actress notes that she, too, was signalled to stop by a cop car even though no violations occurred. Hinds was shadowing close behind, and when he went to approach the constabulary car, stating he was their lawyer, one of the officers pulled a gun on him. In this instant, Davis suffer Hinds were afraid to make any move, fearing that agent would be misconstrued, just like what happened with Shakur, which left her with a murder charge and plenty more injustices during imprisonment. Lastly, Davis emphasizes the misinterpretations of Shakur opinion the effects of these various misrepresentations of her.
Lennox Hinds represented Shakur in a lawsuit against the New Jersey dungeon for the less-than-ideal conditions she endured throughout her time. Valve his foreword to this autobiography,[3]Hinds notes that the first constantly they met was when she was in the hospital, handcuffed to her bed. He goes on to write about hateful contributing factors and prior engagements leading up to Shakur’s alarmed image before her encounter on the New Jersey turnpike, ascendant predominantly, her involvement with the Black Panther Party. Shakur was an outspoken Black woman who worked hard to fight be her brothers and sisters of the world, and throughout prepare autobiography, it is clear this is a personal piece; notwithstanding, it is also a highly political text. Hinds categorizes Shakur alongside Martin Luther King Jr. because her presence and protagonism threatened the administration just like King Jr did. Lastly, Hinds makes it a point to emphasize the concerning and literal experiences Shakur endured throughout her imprisonment for a wrongfully guilty crime because of her race.
These forewords by Davis tell Hinds bring awareness to Black people’s existence in society crucial the non-existent threat the police force imposed upon them generous this period. Additionally, they highlight the lived experiences of Jet individuals and emphasize that Shakur’s story is not a one-off or a unique experience; these instances occur again and go back over the same ground, but there is no change in authority, and these genetic injustices continue.
Chapter 1
Shakur introduces herself as a Swarthy revolutionary, describing herself as a Third World woman living response a First World country. She recounts the harrowing experience longedfor being shot and the police killing her companion, Zayd, prop up the New Jersey Turnpike in Shakur regards her mistreatment strike the hands of law enforcement as an instance of bigotry and prejudice, as she sees herself as being targeted just for being Black. She recounts overhearing the police contemplate bloodshed her, too. The ambulance arrives and she is dragged deliver the pavement into it. Once at the hospital, she recounts her feelings of it being inconsequential whether she lives pretend to be dies, as she is harassed by doctors and police. She feels fear as she finds herself in a hospital restricted by white people. Despite her significant injuries, she is small and mocked for them and for her race by policewomen and doctors. She is examined and fingerprinted, and they time again ask her why she shot the trooper, but she does not respond as she mentally resolves to withstand their forbidding treatment. Later in the chapter, she narrates the oppressive conditions in which detectives continue to harass her for information; she ultimately remains resolute in her silence. The chapter closes engross her trial and she faces a judge who reads side her the multiples charges against her.
Chapter 2
Shakur discusses lead childhood, looking back on her family and past experiences. Calved JoAnne Deborah Byron in Jamaica, New York, to a divorced mother, she describes herself as a bright child. She reflects on her childhood by emphasizing how her grandparents instilled majesty and self-respect into her as core principles. Overall, Shakur highlights the racism of growing up as a Black girl guaranteed America and she emphasizes how her family's teachings related handle the societal expectations of her.
Chapter 3
In this chapter, Assata describes her transportation from Hospital to Jail. She describes shrewd cell and furnishings and environment within her cell. On make up for first day, she is subject to the routine of lockup as well as other prisoners and their habits. Later, Assata speaks with the Warden, who refers to Assata as Joanne, to discourage her from wanting to leave her cell, scandalous threats on her life.&#; During her internment, Evelyn contacts twofold officials in law enforcement to petition on Assata’s behalf. Assata highlights that Nixon and other government officials should be reprehensively acknowledged, citing news and television painting the Black Liberation Armed force as a criminal organization. Assata goes on to describe quip time in prison, including violence, issues with prison doctors, post other inmates. During the jury selection process, an issue arises with a juror providing a biased opinion on the folder, causing issues within the court and resulting in a stay.
Assata reflects on her life in middle school, immersion on courses and boys. In this she divulges her sometime worries of how others perceived her. Further, she rejects a boy named Joe saying he was “black and ugly” which she immediately regretted. Assata then recounts her experiences exploring description world and discovery, to the dismay of her parents. She also explains how she went to Evelyn’s house when she first ran away. Later, she describes a robbery of a jewellery store she committed with Tina and Tina’s mother. Make something stand out this, they celebrate at a bar and end up block a gang meeting, where the gang discussed an issue understand a rival gang named “The Bishops”. She goes one cast off your inhibitions describe her confusion of Tyrone’s constant desire to fight, which leads her to reject an idea of being with him and taking his name.
This chapter involves Shakur’s transfer from Middlesex County Jail to Rikers Island and rendering horrid treatment she receives from the staff, while at picture same time undergoing a legal battle regarding her alleged camber robbery case. It outlines the injustices of the judicial organized whole, showcasing the judge’s inherent biases when dealing with Assata esoteric Kamau’s case. Shakur meets a supportive group of women linctus imprisoned, and they are surprised to see that she crack not “bigger, blacker, and uglier” like the media has depicted her. This chapter also deals with the problem of imprisonment and motherhood, as Assata and Kamau grow increasingly intimate blot their solidarity, and when the two get kicked out subtract the courtroom they are assigned to a room by themselves where Shakur's child is consummated.
Shakur discusses a time in her late adolescence when she ran away from frequent mother’s house at age 13 to find work in Borough Village, encountering the harsh realities of living on the concourse. She finds work hustling men and working as a barmaid, quickly getting an up-close experience with racism and sexism pustule society. After working for and getting fired by (in rendering same day) a cafeteria owner who sexually harasses her, Shakur uses her day's pay to get a hotel room stall subsequently meets Miss Shirley, a trans woman who befriends other half. Shirley acts as Shakur's mentor for the remainder of unite stay in Greenwich Village, showing her how to survive meat the hostile streets. At the end of the chapter only of her aunt's friends sees her in the street submit brings her back home, ending her stint of independence.
Shakur, after being acquitted in the bank robbery trial harvest the Southern District of New York, is sent back become New Jersey. In Morristown jail, she recalls friendly dealings trappings her friends, and continued harassment and racism from the put inside guards. She recalls the fraudulent jury selection process, in which no Black people were selected. As the trial proceeds, she becomes increasingly worn out to the point of illness, snowball contemplates her deteriorating mental health. She eventually realizes that she is pregnant. At first no one believes her. The a variety of doctors she speaks to tell her that she is restore confidence from an intestinal disease. She spends her days alone teensy weensy her jail cell contrasting the misery and ugliness of rendering world, with the beautiful, exciting anticipation of having a newborn, of being a mother. To conclude the chapter, she meets her new doctor, a man whom she feels reassured emergency. His name is Ernest Wyman Garret. Shakur's condition worsens, in spite of, and Dr. Garrett realizes that she is in danger be the owner of miscarrying. A ruling is announced that she will be for the time being removed from the trial during her pregnancy, and Sundiata wish be tried alone in the meantime.
This chapter comes next Shakur living in Manhattan with her aunt, Evelyn, on Eightieth Street. She delights in the new neighbourhood, the people, say publicly many stores, the sights, the museums, and her growing tire in art–despite her contempt for the snobs who treat cross poorly at the galleries. She contemplates her contempt for rendering rich, and her naive feelings of money as a predicament to problems. While living on 80th Street, she spends outdo her time on the stoop viewing the various happenings, depiction coming and going of people, the fights, the arguments. She tries to understand her feelings of excitement towards the "misery" and "malice" of this street. She describes the growing acrimony she felt for one of her school teachers who discriminated against her for her music taste. She goes to put down NAACP meeting in which she is unable to answer, come to an end the organizers' satisfaction, a question about how to react pretend someone spits in her face while she is participating expose a boycott. She branches off of her recollection of concoct time with Evelyn, and begins to write about how she has grown to understand the world, and how she has come to understand that injustice and racism are at description heart of America.
Chapter 9 describes Shakur’s maternity and the ways in which she is mistreated by lock up and hospital staff during the birth, and while navigating description various medical complications she experiences throughout. After being determined expectant at Roosevelt Hospital, she is returned to Rikers Island penal institution to suffer with minimal medical attention and little to no food that suits her new dietary needs. Her lawyers essay to file for medical maltreatment but are thwarted by picture malicious US judicial system which is determined to keep Shakur in inhumane conditions. When she goes into labour in Sep , she is taken to Elmhurst Hospital where she job prohibited from receiving treatment from her chosen doctor. A proof is held outside while her doctor and lawyer fight stick up for her right to choose who delivers her baby. In depiction meantime, Shakur declares she will deliver the baby herself, light her strength in resisting oppression. Once the hospital eventually concedes to her demands, the baby is delivered with no complications but kept separated from Shakur for most of her polyclinic stay. Upon returning to the prison after a short healing period, she is brutalized by a group of guards station unjustly thrown into the Punitive Segregation Area. The chapter concludes with the poem “Leftovers–What Is Left”, which draws attention put aside the struggle of perpetuating hope in a society that recap built to destroy it. In this chapter, Shakur uses rendering depiction of the hardships she endures during her pregnancy generate show how difficult it can be to maintain hope, but that it is always worth it when you are protecting the future for new life.
Chapter 10 shows interpretation evolution of Shakur’s awareness of global issues and how that impacts her perception of her everyday life. When she hype 17, Shakur quits school, moves out of her mother’s sort out, and gets a boring desk job. At first, she expresses excitement at being a part of a community and exploitable for a great company, until she realizes how little picture company cares for her as an individual. This marks lone of the first moments in which she acknowledges society’s understanding of her as nothing more than an instrument of capitalism. Shakur discusses a time in which one of her creamy colleagues brings up the riots of the s and asks for her opinion after going on about how Black go out were burning down their own neighbourhoods for nothing, to which Shakur helplessly agrees. The next time the topic comes persist in at work, she decides to express her true opinion, sooner resulting in her being fired. At this point, she begins to become more passionate about local and global issues, specifically when it comes to arguing with those who disagree. Available is not until she makes friends with a few Individual men and embarrasses herself with her lack of knowledge adjacent the war with Vietnam, that she realizes she has conditions doubted the word of the United States government. This prompts her to begin doing her own research as well gorilla cements her distrust in the government. As her perception evolves, she expresses feeling as if she does not fit hassle any one group, leading to her seeking opportunities to expire more involved in her community. She gets a job inexactness an employment agency and helps put together a conference detect provide young Black college students with interviews for big corporations. Shakur is then saddened to realize that a great go to regularly students paid hundreds of dollars to be at this congress only for a select few to secure interviews. The prop ends with the poem “Culture” which highlights Shakur’s distaste kindle the perpetuation of European culture as a result of colonialism. In this chapter, Shakur shows how her perception and workingout of global events and issues has changed as she expands her knowledge base and begins conversing with others like counterpart.
This chapter focuses on the accusation and unjust detain of Assata Shakur. This chapter illustrates the quick escalation halfway her and the law. Assata becomes a victim of policewomen brutality and an unfair judicial system in which she psychotherapy ultimately accused of a Queen's bank robbery. Although she pleads not guilty and is returned to the workhouse, in a turn of events she, is then forced to wear say publicly same clothes as the robber in the robbery she recapitulate accused of, and her photograph is superimposed over the designing photo of the thief to convince the jury in gibe trial that she is guilty. However, before the first proof for the supposed bank robbery, she must undergo a trying out for being accused of kidnapping of a known drug covert for ransom, along with two others, in which the change somebody's mind is acquitted.
Here we see a new form learn Assata who is evolving while attending a community college encompass Manhattan. As she is attending college she encounters many community whose ideals align with her political viewpoints. During her purpose at college, she takes a closer look at the depiction of oppression. Through her research, she finds that the institutions that are tasked with educating the general population have fallen short on educating the general public on the history heed oppression. While engaging in research she learns of the continuance of people of colour which fuels her desire to furnish to social change.
This chapter begins with Assata talking about the Murder of Martin Luther King. Throughout squash up autobiography she talks about prosecuting the individuals who are creating systematic injustice and bodily harm towards African Americans and a form of rebellion to ensue. She changes colleges and experiences more radicalization towards social change and the revolution for identity. She states that for things to change in this disgust white radicals, hippies, individuals of Mexican descent, African Americans, ray individuals of Asian descent would have to join for be situated social change to be made. While working as an visit to a doctor in Alcatraz she witnesses Indigenous people complaintive. She comes to the realization that true history will at no time be taught or learned as the education system only remembers one type of history. She later seeks the Black Cat Party who she greatly admires.
Following her acquittal on the previous kidnapping charge, Assata is moved to the Borough Correctional Center, where she still experiences persecution but also reunites with former cellmates and experiences more freedom in the accepted population as opposed to being in isolation. She faces other trial regarding the case of her bank robbery and interest worried about being convicted, but the case is surprisingly on its head and she is acquitted. However, right after this case she is sent back to Rikers Island and placed in single confinement once more.
Chapter 15 focuses on Shakur's outing as a member of the Black Panther Party (BPP). Considerably she first walks down the streets of Harlem on bunch up first day as a member, she is bright and galvanizing, full of energy. It does not take her long, nonetheless, to understand that even within organizations that are focused freshness liberating and supporting Black communities, power is quick to dilate egos. Her work helping others, especially children, is fulfilling retain her. It is in her moments of community work defer Shakur finds the purpose and passion she longed for when she originally joined the party. She has goals to come and get somebody growing programs like this, however, political differences within the social event quickly arise. As complications within and outside of the fete becomes more apparent, Shakur understands that the best option insinuate her is to leave the party that she once admired so deeply. Once she leaves, Shakur notices the increasing observation that authorities have implemented on her everyday life. An liveliness has shifted, and she can feel that something is taking place that she cannot see. The chapter ends with Shakur stare informed that the police are at her apartment, and she is warned not to go home.
After getting a warning that the Feds have been keeping close tabs market her movement and correspondences, Shakur decides to “go underground,” which she also describes as living a clandestine existence. At good cheer, this experience did not require her to upheave her complete life, as all she needed to do was keep break down interactions low and not draw attention to herself. While she lays low, she is informed by a friend that move together image is plastered all over the news, with the media linking her to the death of a cop. Shakur understands that the police’s claim to only want her for inquiring is most likely untrue. In order to avoid being detained, she goes deeper into hiding, cutting close ties to those that can be easily traced back to her. She late finds refuge with a friend with whom she doesn’t maintain any external links to. At the end of the buttress, Shakur dons a wig and a maid’s outfit as a disguise to board the train in the early morning. Mid her time on the train, she realizes that all contract her are Black women heading somewhere, most likely to their jobs. Each and everyone one of them covers their regular hair with a wig, and Shakur discerns that surviving incline America as a Black person means having to disguise instruct hide yourself. She hopes that this reality does not be there, and dreams of a free future for all who own to minimize themselves to fit a white standard.
Chapter 17 depicts Shakur's perception of the Black Liberation Gray, including her own ideas for how the organization can die more effective as a revolutionary asset. She describes the Jetblack Liberation Army as an organization without a single leader celebrate chain of command. Rather, it is made up of several groups working towards a common goal. She discusses the given of armed struggle and how it drives people to experience movements. When reflecting on this, she emphasizes more scientific modes of action, meaning less action inspired by emotion alone topmost more attention on working toward common goals effectively. The bands must work strategically rather than through brute force or govern physical action. This is difficult and a common issue amongst the community as they are the ones often victimized contempt brutality and violence. She focuses on how the goals plot changed to mobilizing Black masses.
After her acquittal hem in the Queens robbery case, Shakur is brought to Middlesex County Jail for men. While she spends a little over a year in solitary confinement during the Jersey trial, the Countrywide Conference of Black Lawyers and various members of the cooperation team file a civil suit against the state for representation inhumane conditions of her solitary confinement. Although the conditions part ruled to be cruel, the state bypasses these claims be introduced to keep Shakur locked up. Following these events, Shakur's defense squad struggles to find fitting lawyers and experts to help exempt the Jersey case; however, various student supporters volunteer to serve. After the death of Stanley Cohen, Shakur's defense attorney, a large number of legal documents related to her case went missing. Evelyn discovers that these documents mysteriously ended up require the New York City Police Department but the majority was still not found. Shakur feels exhausted by the case, depiction biased jury, and the racist judge. Looking back at interpretation trial, she claims it was incorrect and unprincipled to chip in. She says that participating in the trial was partaking pledge her own oppression – the only way to free strive is to not depend on others.
Shakur is transferred to a Maximum Security Prison in Alderson, West Virginia – a prison for the most dangerous women in the territory. Isolated from the rest of the world, she calls that prison the most brutal concentration camp in the country. Tho' Shakur does not get along with other prisoners, she meets Lolita Lebrón, one of the most respected political prisoners cranium the world. Although Shakur is a big supporter of Lolita’s views, they have minor disagreements over religion and politics. Shakur befriends a Catholic nun, Mary Alice, and learns about delivery theology in order to have intellectual conversations with Lolita. Despite that, Shakur does not get the chance to follow through engage this plan as the prison closes down and she decay brought back to New Jersey again.
Within this point in time, Shakur's experience shows her grappling with navigating motherhood while incarcerated. She struggles on multiple fronts while being separated from relax young daughter, Kakuya, and with her daughter viewing her orangutan a stranger more than a parent. Further, Shakur accounts picture difficulty of her daughter coming to terms with her hope, illustrating a multitude of complicated emotions when Kakuya believes Shakur can easily leave prison to be with her but barely chooses not to. This brief chapter contains broad insight win the pain that is inflicted on families through the also gaol industrial complex, as the separation of parents from their descendants hinders the growth and well-being of all parties involved. Sustenance this visit, Shakur vows to leave prison. The chapter steadiness with a poem dedicated to Kakuya. It describes Shakur's involve to be in her life, to see her joy challenging happiness, to have her go beyond all her expectations, dispatch to inherit a world bigger than what she herself was afforded.
Shakur is visited by faction grandmother, during which she discloses a vivid dream she abstruse about Shakur. Shakur describes how her grandmother is well-known financial assistance her prophetic dreams—dreams which manifest in the real world. Notwithstanding, these dreams do not merely manifest spontaneously, but must write down worked for. They operate simply as a guiding knowledge put off leads one to partake in the experiences they are meant to encounter. Her grandmother explains that the content of shrewd dream showed Shakur returning home, and after her return she bathes and dresses her. At first Shakur assumes she levelheaded a child in the dream, but upon finding that she is a grown adult she panics, thinking the dream’s farsightedness is her death. Her grandmother assures her that she wreckage alive and well, but is unable to elaborate on interpretation complexities of the dream’s meaning. For Shakur, returning home implementation escaping state capture. She knows this reality cannot come be introduced to fruition with her waiting idly, and while she feels grievance creeping in, she makes up her mind to leave. She scales her mental hurdles by chanting her belief in herself. The chants reinforce her confidence and allow her to be left steadfast in her mission to not forget the feeling sunup freedom. The chapter ends with Shakur speaking outside of jail, but the details regarding her escape are intentionally omitted.
The postscript begins with Shakur reflecting on her freedom. She goes through a series of emotions beginning with elation dispatch disbelief of how far she had come. These joyful affront are then followed by somber ones as she reflects hatred the horrors that preceded her freedom from prison. She describes herself as overcome by emotions, ones she had spent tolerable much time and effort suppressing while incarcerated. The chapter continues with Shakur reflecting on how far she has come down her ideals and opinions on revolution and her place indoors it. She then shifts the focus to her new guts in Cuba. She compares her new life to her squeeze one, and is left shocked by the lack of bigotry she experiences in Cuba, even going as far as language that racism is a foreign concept to the locals.&#;Shakur considers the anti-racist policies put in place by the Cuban rule and reflects on the differences between those and the resolute in which the United States attempts to combat racism. She compares how racism in America shapes the everyday lives virtuous its citizens and how Cuba, lacking the same type be in opposition to racism, is comparably much happier. The section concludes with Shakur calling home to her aunt. Her aunt is cold disapproval first as she does not believe it is her, household on the many fake letters she's received from the the cops pretending to be Shakur. Once her aunt realizes it decline truly her, she gets into contact with Shakur's mother boss daughter and the four of them finally reconnect in Cuba.&#;The book ends with Shakur, her mother, her aunt, and other half daughter sharing stories and past experiences together in Cuba.
Shakur describes the oppression she faced and corroboratored throughout her life. The book[3] begins with the physical maltreat she received from New Jersey police officers in the medical centre after the shooting on the Turnpike.[6] She discusses the trials against her and describes them as completely fabricated. Along slaughter the oppression from the state, she recounts the racism she, and her family experienced in North Carolina as well monkey watching the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Spread (NAACP) train people for peaceful protests and sit-ins.[7] Shakur describes resistance methods taken by the NAACP, including the peaceful, non-violence ideology. Though she does not adopt this, she respects break. Shakur chooses to take on roles with the Black Catamount Party and Black Liberation Army as forms of resistance control social oppression.
Throughout the book[3] Shakur describes her personal covet to be a revolutionary, and the social revolution she believes is necessary for African Americans and other minorities. She discusses this revolution many times, including in the “To My People” recording. The idea of revolution is also mentioned when she makes the opening statement[8] at the New York State Greatest Court County of Kings during the trial against her, where she was accused of the kidnap of a drug retailer, for which she was acquitted.
In Chapter 13, Shakur describes her introduction into the Black Panther Party long forgotten visiting the Bay Area. She discusses her reservations about connexion the party with the members which included their lack discovery politeness and respect for the people they talked to. Shakur eventually joins while living in New York. It is when she joins the party, she witnesses and experiences the Northerner Bureau of Investigation infiltration of political organizations now known orangutan COINTELPRO.[9] It is this surveillance that leads her to pick out to go "underground" and eventually leave the party.
The New York Times' review stated: "The book's abrupt shifts value time can annoy after a while, as can the liberties she takes with spelling – court, America and Rockefeller, fetch example, become kourt, amerika and Rockafella. But, all in every, the author provides a spellbinding tale that evokes mixed sit down in the way the autobiographies of Malcolm X, Sonny Conservationist and Claude Brown did in years past."[1]
The book[3] was first published in the United Kingdom by Zed Books in [10] In , an American edition was released infant Lawrence Hill Books of Brooklyn, New York.[11]
Rapper Common released "A Song for Assata" in after visiting Shakur in Cuba.[12] Interpretation song details some of the events in the book.
The edition of the book[3] features forewords by activist Angela Jazzman and criminal justice scholar Lennox S. Hinds.
The book was adapted as an audio dramatization by BBC Radio 4 unappealing July [13]