John,
Black August honors Black freedom fighters and organizers from the past and present -- many of whom were killed by the state, imprisoned for defending Black lives, or are increasingly surveilled as they shine a light on prison conditions.
When commemorating Black resistance and the fight for Black freedom, we also must understand our history in the month of August.
August marks many moments of Black resistance. On August 21st, 1971, is when George Jackson was murdered by prison guards after initiating a rebellion against the prison system in California. On the same day in 1831, Nat Turner led a slave revolt in Virginia. And in 1850, the Fugitive Slave Convention began – marking the largest of its kind in the U.S. at the time.
All of this sheds light on the work of political prisoners, and the impact of rebellions against systems of state-sanctioned violence.
This month we honor the political prisoners and freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives and freedom in the name of total Black liberation. Our present day work is rooted in the legacies of their resistance, and we continue their belief in the fight for liberation.
Black August is a time to recommit and build a world that honors the legacy of our freedom-fighting ancestors, our people, and the generations to come.
In love and solidarity,
Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation
