Assata: An Autobiography is a 1988 autobiographical book by Assata Shakur. The book was written in Cuba where Shakur lived after being granted political asylum in 1984.
Synopsis The autobiography begins on May 2, 1973. Shakur recounts what happened after a shooting on the New Jersey State Turnpike. The shooting left Zayd Shakur and New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster killed, Assata Shakur wounded, and Sundiata Acoli on the run. The book continues with Shakur describing her early childhood growing up in Queens, New York, with her mother, and spending her summers in Wilmington, North Carolina, with her grandparents. Shakur tells her story by going back and forth between the "present" with Shakur's hospitalization, incarceration, pregnancy and trial following the events on the New Jersey State Turnpike; and the "past" with her early childhood schooling, the beginning of her radicalization, and her time as a prominent Black Power and human rights revolutionary.
"To My People" "To My People" was a recorded statement released by Assata Shakur while in jail in Middlesex County, New Jersey. The tape was recorded on Independence Day, 1973, and was broadcast on numerous radio stations. Shakur includes the transcript of the recording in Chapter 3 of the autobiography. The recording was released in response to the media coverage about Shakur after the New Jersey Turnpike Shooting. In the recording, Shakur publicly described herself as a black revolutionary, her participation in the Black Liberation Army and her participation in the incident. In the message, Shakur describes the corruption of police, structural inequality between blacks and whites, and the American support of brutal wars and regimes in Cambodia, Vietnam, and South Africa.
Chapter-by-chapter summary Foreword "Assata: An Autobiography" begins with forewords by political activist, philosopher, and author Angela Davis and lawyer, teacher, and author Lennox Hinds. Davis and Hinds were both participating in a benefit at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey at the time that Shakur was awaiting trial for murder in the 1970s. Both Davis and Hinds served in the leadership of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.
In her foreword, Angela Davis discusses her involvement in the benefit at Rutgers University for campaigning to free political prisoners such as Shakur. While the event did not lead to Shakur's freedom, it was an impressive step in the right direction. Additionally, Davis explains Shakur's initial run-in with the state troopers on the New Jersey Turnpike in 1973 with acquaintances Zayd Shakur and Sundiata Acoli, then shares a similar experience. After the benefit at Rutgers, Davis notes that she, too, was signalled to stop by a cop car even though no violations occurred. Hinds was following close behind, and when he went to approach the police car, stating he was their lawyer, one of the officers pulled a gun on him. In this instant, Davis and Hinds were afraid to make any move, fearing that it 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 and their various effects.
Lennox Hinds represented Shakur in a lawsuit against the New Jersey prison for the less-than-ideal conditions she endured throughout her time. In his foreword to this autobiography, Hinds notes that the first time they met was when she was in the hospital, handcuffed to her bed. He goes on to write about some contributing factors and prior engagements leading up to Shakur's fearful image before her encounter on the turnpike, most predominantly, her involvement with the Black Panther Party. Shakur was an outspoken Black woman who worked hard to fight for her brothers and sisters of the world, and throughout her autobiography, it is clear this is a personal piece; however, it is also a highly political text. Hinds categorizes Shakur alongside Martin Luther King Jr., because her presence and advocacy threatened the administration just like King's did. Lastly, Hinds makes it a point to emphasize the concerning and distorted experiences Shakur endured throughout her imprisonment for a wrongfully convicted crime because of her race.
These forewords by Davis and Hinds bring awareness to Black people's existence in society and the non-existent threat the police force imposed upon them during this period. Additionally, they highlight the lived experiences of Black individuals and emphasize that Shakur's story is not a one-off or a unique experience; these instances occur again and again, but there is no change in authority, and these racial injustices continue.
Chapters 1–4
Chapter 1 Shakur introduces herself as a Black revolutionary, describing herself as a Third World woman living in a First World country. She recounts the harrowing experience of being shot and the police killing her companion, Zayd, on the New Jersey Turnpike in 1973. Shakur regards her mistreatment at the hands of law enforcement as an instance of racism and prejudice, as she sees herself as being targeted simply for being Black. She recounts overhearing the police contemplate killing her, too. The ambulance arrives and she is dragged across the pavement into it. Once at the hospital, she recounts her feelings of it being inconsequential whether she lives or dies, as she is harassed by doctors and police. She feels fear as she finds herself in a hospital surrounded by white people. Despite her significant injuries, she is belittled and mocked for them and for her race by police and doctors. She is examined and fingerprinted, and they repeatedly ask her why she shot the trooper, but she does not respond as she mentally resolves to withstand their brutal treatment. Later in the chapter, she narrates the oppressive environment in which detectives continue to harass her for information; she ultimately remains resolute in her silence. The chapter closes with her trial and she faces a judge who reads to her the multiples charges against her.
Chapter 2 Shakur discusses her childhood, looking back on her family and past experiences. Born 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 dignity and self-respect into her as core principles. Overall, Shakur highlights the racism of growing up as a Black girl in America and she emphasizes how her family's teachings related to the societal expectations of her.
Chapter 3 In this chapter, Assata describes her transportation from Hospital to Jail. She describes her cell and furnishings and environment within her cell. On her first day, she is subject to the routine of prison 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, citing threats on her life. During her internment, Evelyn contacts multiple officials in law enforcement to petition on Assata’s behalf. Assata highlights that Nixon and other government officials should be criminally acknowledged, citing news and television painting the Black Liberation Army as a criminal organization. Assata goes on to describe her time in prison, including violence, issues with prison doctors, and other inmates. During the jury selection process, an issue arises with a juror providing a biased opinion on the case, causing issues within the court and resulting in a postponement.
Chapter 4 Assata reflects on her life in middle school, focusing on courses and boys. In this she divulges her previous 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 the 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. After this, they celebrate at a bar and end up in a gang meeting, where the gang discussed an issue with a rival gang named “The Bishops”. She goes one to 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.
Chapters 5–8
Chapter 5 This chapter involves Shakur’s transfer from Middlesex County Jail to Rikers Island and the horrid treatment she receives from the staff, while at the same time undergoing a legal battle regarding her alleged bank robbery case. It outlines the injustices of the judicial system, showcasing the judge’s inherent biases when dealing with Assata and Kamau’s case. Shakur meets a supportive group of women while imprisoned, and they are surprised to see that she is not “bigger, blacker, and uglier” like the media has portrayed her. This chapter also deals with the problem of incarceration and motherhood, as Assata and Kamau grow increasingly intimate in their solidarity, and when the two get kicked out of the courtroom they are assigned to a room by themselves where Shakur's child is conceived.
Chapter 6 Shakur discusses a period in her late adolescence when she ran away from her mother’s house at age 13 to find work in Greenwich Village, encountering the harsh realities of living on the street. She finds work hustling men and working as a barmaid, quickly getting an up-close experience with racism and sexism in society. After working for and getting fired by (in the same day) a cafeteria owner who sexually harasses her, Shakur uses her day's pay to get a hotel room and subsequently meets Miss Shirley, a trans woman who befriends her. Shirley acts as Shakur's mentor for the remainder of her stay in Greenwich Village, showing her how to survive in the hostile streets. At the end of the chapter one of her aunt's friends sees her in the street and brings her back home, ending her stint of independence.
Chapter 7 Shakur, after being acquitted in the bank robbery trial in the Southern District of New York, is sent back to New Jersey. In Morristown jail, she recalls friendly dealings with her friends, and continued harassment and racism from the prison 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, and contemplates her deteriorating mental health. She eventually realizes that she is pregnant. At first no one believes her. The various doctors she speaks to tell her that she is suffering from an intestinal disease. She spends her days alone in her jail cell contrasting the misery and ugliness of the world, with the beautiful, exciting anticipation of having a baby, of being a mother. To conclude the chapter, she meets her new doctor, a man whom she feels reassured by. His name is Ernest Wyman Garret. Shakur's condition worsens, though, and Dr. Garrett realizes that she is in danger of miscarrying. A ruling is announced that she will be temporarily removed from the trial during her pregnancy, and Sundiata will be tried alone in the meantime.
Chapter 8