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First Chapters: Militancy and Confrontation
In the founding chapters of Assata Shakur’ s life, the influence of her aunt, Evelyn A. Williams, was a pivotal element, sculpting not only her identity but also her revolutionary trajectory. A lawyer and civil rights activist, Evelyn A. Williams was a decisive figure, introducing Assata to art galleries, museums, books and, above all, to the critical question of the bias of historical narratives.
Flashmag! Issue 165 October 2025
Mid-1960s, New York: As a student at Borough of Manhattan Community College( BMCC) and City College of New York( CCNY), JoAnne Deborah Byron immersed herself in political activism. She took part in civil rights demonstrations and sit-ins, laying the foundations for her future involvement.
1967, New York: She is arrested for the first time along with a hundred other BMCC students for trespassing, while protesting the low number of black professors and the lack of a black studies program.
1970-1971, New York and Oakland: JoAnne briefly joins the Black Panther Party( BPP) in Oakland, California, then in Harlem, where she organizes community programs such as“ Free Breakfast for Children”. However, she soon left the party, dissatisfied with the macho behavior of some members and their lack of knowledge of African-American history.
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1971, New York: She adopts the name Assata Olugbala Shakur, rejecting JoAnne Chesimard as a“ slave name”. Assata means“ she who fights” in West Africa, and Shakur“ she who gives thanks” in Arabic. Olugbala means“ savior” in Yoruba. She joins the Black Liberation Army( BLA), a Vietcong-inspired militant group waging a resistance guerrilla campaign against the US government, including bank robberies to further their designs. Between 1971 and 1973, New York: The FBI launches a nationwide manhunt for Assata Shakur, accusing her of leading a BLA cell responsible for“ cold-blooded murders” of New York City police officers.