John, the Summer is flying by, and we’re officially in August.
That means it’s time to celebrate Black August.
The significance of Black August to all Black people runs deep. 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 for bringing attention to the appalling prison conditions of America.
Black August was created by a group of incarcerated Black prisoners in San Quentin State Prison in 1979 — they changed the way that we celebrate August ever since.
August marks many moments of Black resistance:
On August 21st, 1971, prison guards murdered George Jackson 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 political prisoners' work and the impact of rebellions against systems of state-sanctioned violence.
Black freedom and liberation are inherently intertwined with criminal justice reform.
Black August’s message of Black power, resistance, and activism is critical to our existence. We give thanks to our political prisoners and freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives and freedom for ours.
Black August is a time to honor, learn, and celebrate those who have come before us. It’s also a time to recommit to the work ahead of us. In the legacy of those before us, we continue their belief in the fight for liberation.
— Black Lives Matter
