The Black Panther Party and other revolutionary groups initially commemorated Black August as a time to remember and celebrate the lives of Black political prisoners and activists. The designation prompts us to reflect on the present struggles and sacrifices of Black activists and freedom fighters, and to celebrate heroes who broke the rules of the status quo.
Society marginalizes and ignores the more radical members of the Black American community's long tradition of resistance against racial oppression—people like Kwame Toure, George Jackson and Assata Shakur. Their exclusion from Black History Month is most certainly political. The dominant culture prefers to reinforce the idea that Black resistance was limited to civil rights. It also tries to pigeonhole it into timeline that begins with enslavement and ends with Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. (Although it did recently extend this timeline to the election of Barack Obama.)
Black August centers resistance on different terms: It celebrates all forms of resistance. Violent resistance isn’t shunned here or put in the context of “bad resistance,” but rather framed as an additional option when the state insists on creating violent and unsafe environments for oppressed people, African people in particular.
Activists chose August because of several significant historical events and figures associated with the month. This includes the Nat Turner Rebellion, the birth of notable leaders like Marcus Garvey and Kwame Nkrumah, and the deaths of influential activists like George Jackson.
George Jackson, an influential member of the Black Panther Party, is particularly central to Black August. Jackson was imprisoned in the 1970s and became a prominent figure in the struggle for prisoners' rights and racial justice. His writings, which include "Soledad Brother" and "Blood in My Eye," highlight the systemic injustices faced by Black individuals and the broader socio-political struggles of the time. Jackson discovered the work of revolutionary socialist Karl Marx in prison and wrote about the importance of study and resistance.
And, yes, Jackson also discussed armed rebellion and fighting the state to achieve freedom. Of course, advocating for violence is a nonstarter in a capitalist system that generally seeks to maintain the docility of its population. Things like the Black Liberation Army can’t be celebrated in the mainstream because why would a dominant system want to inspire the people most impacted to resist? Black August doesn’t wrap itself in fluffy diplomacy like that, however. It seeks to inspire a higher, more complete, level of resistance among the people most oppressed by the state.
During Black August, people engage in various activities to honor the legacy. This might include educational events, rallies, community service, and solid moments of reflection on the ongoing fight for racial equality and social justice.
The observance of Black August should include a focus on political prisoners who have been incarcerated for activism. Let it serve as an invitation to advocate for their release and support their worthy causes. Let this also be a time to renew a commitment to the principles of justice and liberation that activists fought for and to continue their legacy of resistance and resilience.
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Joecephus Martin is a lifelong Jackson resident who enjoys reading, cheering for his children’s soccer teams and trying new recipes for his family to taste test.
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