About this Event
In remembrance of Political Activist Assata Shakur (1947 - 2025).
This event explores the life, ideas, and enduring influence of Assata Shakur, former Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army (BLA) member whose political thought continues to shape contemporary struggles against racism and state violence. Though Shakur has lived in political exile in Cuba for decades, her writings and activism remain central to conversations about Black liberation, political education, and resistance to structural oppression in the United States.
At a time when police violence against Black and Brown communities has once again moved to the forefront of public consciousness, Assata Shakur stands as a powerful and controversial symbol for many African-Americans navigating American systems of inequality. Drawing from her autobiography Assata, the session highlights her insistence on self-education, historical truth, and the importance of understanding liberation struggles outside of dominant narratives. As Shakur wrote, “No one is going to give you the education you need to overthrow them… if they know that that knowledge will help set you free.”
The session also examines the events surrounding her 1973 arrest, subsequent imprisonment under harsh conditions, and her 1979 escape from the Clinton Correctional Facility for Women, which led to her eventual relocation to Cuba. Despite her continued absence from the United States, the U.S. government has maintained a $2 million reward for her capture, underscoring the lasting political significance of her case.
Through historical context and close engagement with her autobiography, this event presents Assata Shakur as a complex human being rather than a caricature—revealing her humour, vulnerability, and critical reflections on revolutionary movements, as well as the ways state power worked to dismantle them. Ultimately, the discussion invites participants to consider what Assata Shakur’s life teaches us about resistance, memory, and the ongoing struggle for Black liberation.
THIS EVENT IS NOT TO BE MISSED!!
This event will take place on Saturday 10 January 2026 from 14:00 GMT.
The event will be held at The Black Cultural Centre Islington, 16–18 Hornsey Road, N7 7BT. Approx 5 mins walk from Holloway Road (Piccadilly Line) tube station.
Food and drinks will be on sale.
The event is FREE, we appreciate a donation of £5.00 but welcome any amount so we can fund future events.
For this event we know that demand will be high but capacity is limited so entrance will be on a FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS. Be on time to guarantee entry.
Please note that this event will be photographed for historical record and uploaded to the World Wide Web. By attending and participating in this event, you are giving your consent to be photographed and waiving any and all claims regarding the use of your image.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Black Cultural Centre Islington, 16–18 Hornsey Road, London, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
