Assata Olugbala Shakur

Assata Olugbala Shakur, born JoAnne Deborah Byron on July 16, 1947, in Queens, New York, was a prominent figure in the Black liberation movement and a former member of the Black Liberation Army. After being convicted in 1977 for the murder of New Jersey state trooper Werner Foerster, Shakur escaped from prison and sought asylum in Cuba, where she became a symbol of resistance against racial oppression. Shakur's life and activism were marked by her commitment to social justice, as she challenged systemic racism and advocated for Black empowerment. She authored an autobiography that chronicled her experiences and ideology, inspiring generations of activists. Shakur passed away on September 25, 2023, in Havana, Cuba, at the age of 78.