Dear John,

As we enter Black August, we give honor to those who sacrificed their lives and freedom for ours. This month we give special acknowledgment to our political and politicized prisoners, many of whom are still living behind prison bars and walls. Our remembrance must not be one confined to words, but also of deed. During this month, we commit ourselves to discipline and self-determination. As taught by the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement (MXGM), we fast, study, train, and fight that we might contribute to the liberation of our people.

Black August is the only widely practiced Black-led period of commemoration to be birthed by our incarcerated loved ones. Black August began in the early 1970s, following the murder of our beloved Ancestor George Jackson, who was murdered by prison guards in San Quentin. Brother George's murder came only a year after his brother, 17-year-old Jonathan Jackson, was killed along with William Christmas and James McClain. Ruchell Magee survived and remains imprisoned. The month of reflection and recommitment to liberation struggle draws heavily from Islamic and other spiritual practices and was first practiced beyond prison walls in August 1979.

Black Lives Matter commemorates Black August by calling the names of those killed in pursuit of Black freedom: Shaka Zulu, David Walker, Mary Turner, Hariette Moore, Malcolm X, Amilcar Cabral, Bunchy Carter, John Huggins, Dulcie September, "Little Phil" Africa, and thousands more. We call the names and are called to action around the political and politicized prisoners who continue to be held by the system of modified slavery: Ruchell Magee, Dr. Mutulu Shakur, Imam Jamil Al-Amin (H. Rap Brown), Sundiata Acoli, Mumia Abu-Jamal, and so many others.

We also seek to honor the freedom fighters who walked before us and among us.
  • FAST - All who are able are encouraged to abstain from eating from sun up to sun down to build discipline and empathy with our imprisoned folks and foster our collective spiritual unity.
  • STUDY - Read as much as we can about the struggle for Black liberation and the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters. Many of us will participate in a month-long read of Blood In My Eye by George Jackson.
  • TRAIN - Build our mental and physical endurance through fitness and exercise. Online classes are being offered by MXGM.
  • FIGHT - Redouble the work towards Black liberation. Join local Black Lives Matter chapters.
There's more that we can do…
  1. SIGN and share the petitions to free Ruchell Magee, Imam Jamil Al-Amin, and Dr. Mutulu Shakur.
  2. DONATE to the Jericho Movement, built to support political prisoners.
  3. WRITE messages of hope, love, and support to a political prisoner.
  4. SHARE this image to support Black August

    5. Black Lives Matter Commemorates #BlackAugust in honor of the freedom fighters who walked before us and stand among us, especially our political and politicized prisoners. We are grateful to those who put their bodies and freedom on the line for the liberation of Black people. This is a month of self-determination and discipline...a time to recommit ourselves to the collective liberation of Black people. Through fasting, study, training, and struggle. Through fasting, study, training, and struggle, we offer our lives and our selves to the work of getting free.

    We are grateful to be heirs to the Black freedom struggle. We pray that the work that we do honors our Ancestors and leaves the world better for those who come after.

    Peace and Justice,

    The Black Lives Matter Crew






Black Lives Matter Global Network


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