Assata Shakur, a former member of the Black Liberation Army and one of the most widely debated figures in American political history, died in Havana, Cuba, last week at 78 years old. Shakur spent more than four decades in exile after escaping U.S. custody in 1979 and receiving asylum from the Cuban government.
Assata Shakur, born JoAnne Deborah Byron in 1947, spent her early years in Queens, New York, and Wilmington, North Carolina, where she witnessed racial segregation. Raised by her mother and her aunt Evelyn Williams, a civil rights attorney, Shakur developed an early awareness of systemic injustice. She renamed herself Assata Olugbala Shakur as a declaration of political rebirth. “Assata” means she who struggles, “Olugbala” translates to love for the people, and “Shakur” means the thankful, chosen in honor of her comrade Zayd Malik Shakur who was killed by police.
After attending Borough of Manhattan Community College and City College of New York, she became politically active during the Black Power era, joining anti-war protests and Black nationalist groups such as the Golden Drums Society. In 1971, she adopted the name Assata Olugbala Shakur.
Her activism led to involvement with the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army. In May 1973, Shakur was wounded and arrested during a shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike that resulted in the deaths of State Trooper Werner Foerster and BLA member Zayd Malik Shakur.
She was convicted of Foerster’s murder in 1977 and sentenced to life in prison. Supporters have questioned the fairness of the trial, citing forensic discrepancies and concerns about jury composition. Shakur denied firing a weapon during the incident.
In 1979, Shakur escaped from prison and later surfaced in Cuba, where she was granted asylum. Her 1987 autobiography, Assata, recounts her early life, political involvement, and experiences in custody. The book is cited in academic and activist circles and remains influential in discussions of prison abolition, Black feminism and racial justice. In 2013, the FBI added her to its Most Wanted Terrorists list. Cuba declined the United States’ extradition requests.
While the American government painted controversial narratives about Shakur over the years, others have honored her legacy of activism. The Chicago Teachers Union faced backlash for a social media tribute honoring Assata Shakur, describing her as “a revolutionary fighter, a fierce writer, a revered elder of Black liberation.”
Several City Council members in Chicago condemned the post, calling it irresponsible. Alderman Brendan Reilly argued it sent a harmful message to students, while Alderman Debra Silverstein warned it could endanger law enforcement.
The Chicago Teachers Union responded, saying critics were misrepresenting a history they “do not understand.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson declined to denounce the tribute, emphasizing the broader context of racial injustice.
“I don’t operate the Teachers Union Twitter account,” Johnson said. “Assata Shakur was an important figure in the Black liberation movement who repeatedly claimed her innocence and was tried by an all-white jury at a time when fair trials for Black defendants were nearly impossible.”
While stating he does not condone violence, Johnson pointed to Chicago’s legacy of wrongful convictions and police torture.
“We are still dealing with the sins of our predecessors,” he added. “As an activist and symbol of resistance, may she rest in peace.”
Public reactions to her death have varied. Law enforcement officials reiterated their stance on her conviction and escape, while artists, educators and activists posted tributes recognizing her influence.
Some students offered their perspective on Shakur’s life and legacy.
“I’ve never seen Assata Shakur as a terrorist. To me, she was more like a hero. The way the media and government framed her shaped public perception unfairly. It shows how language can distort the truth, especially in Black stories, and reminds us that whose fear matters often decides who is labeled violent,” said Ma’Sha Summerville, senior Health Science major with an Afro-American Studies minor from Memphis.
No cause of death was disclosed. Shakur is survived by her daughter, Kakuya Shakur.
Copy edited by Daryl R. Thomas Jr.
