Assata: an Autobiography by Assata Shakur
Assata: an Autobiography by Assata Shakur
Assata Shakur was born on July 14, 1947 her real name is Joanne Deborah Byron, after she was born her parent divorced. She was living with her mother, aunt and her grandparents in Wilmington North Carolina. As a child she spent time working with her grandparents in a restaurant they own by the beach. Her grandparents instilled in her the love for written word, and she spent a great deal reading to satisfy her imagination. Her family tried to infuse in her a sense of dignity, “you are as good as anyone else”, also not to let anyone said that they’re better than her. Shakur never like her real name Joanne she felt that she was not an African American and she should go back to Africa, because of this she thought of a name that will mean something and that’s how she became Assata Shakur.
Her school was segregated, but in her case the teachers took more of an interest because they lived in the same neighborhoods. Ay school dance no one would dance with her, a boy name Richard Kennedy who was in her class told her that “if you give me a dime , I will dance with you, which she didn’t do, and she was the only one not dancing.
After coming out of high school, she became involved with the Black Panther and thrown in the mix of black power and revolutionary Politics. After leaving the Black Panther, she became a leader for the Black Liberation Army.
The beginning of the book talks about the events which lead to her being railroaded through the New York Federal Penal System.
On May 2nd, 1973, Assata Shakur, Sundiata Acoli and Zayd Shakur were stopped on the New Jersey turnpike by two white Police Officers. After pulling over the side of the road, the three were order to get out of the car and order to stand with their hands in the air. Zayd Shakur was killed and an exchange of bullets began in which one of the white officers was also killed, according to testimony from official experts, Shakur at the time held no gun and her
Assata Shakur was born on July 14, 1947 her real name is Joanne Deborah Byron, after she was born her parent divorced. She was living with her mother, aunt and her grandparents in Wilmington North Carolina. As a child she spent time working with her grandparents in a restaurant they own by the beach. Her grandparents instilled in her the love for written word, and she spent a great deal reading to satisfy her imagination. Her family tried to infuse in her a sense of dignity, “you are as good as anyone else”, also not to let anyone said that they’re better than her. Shakur never like her real name Joanne she felt that she was not an African American and she should go back to Africa, because of this she thought of a name that will mean something and that’s how she became Assata Shakur.
Her school was segregated, but in her case the teachers took more of an interest because they lived in the same neighborhoods. Ay school dance no one would dance with her, a boy name Richard Kennedy who was in her class told her that “if you give me a dime , I will dance with you, which she didn’t do, and she was the only one not dancing.
After coming out of high school, she became involved with the Black Panther and thrown in the mix of black power and revolutionary Politics. After leaving the Black Panther, she became a leader for the Black Liberation Army.
The beginning of the book talks about the events which lead to her being railroaded through the New York Federal Penal System.
On May 2nd, 1973, Assata Shakur, Sundiata Acoli and Zayd Shakur were stopped on the New Jersey turnpike by two white Police Officers. After pulling over the side of the road, the three were order to get out of the car and order to stand with their hands in the air. Zayd Shakur was killed and an exchange of bullets began in which one of the white officers was also killed, according to testimony from official experts, Shakur at the time held no gun and her