Assata Shakur was an important member of the Black Liberation Army, later becoming an international symbol of resistance and freedom. She died in Havana, Cuba, at the age of 78. Shakur, formerly Joanne Chesimard, spent the next several decades in exile. People on both sides convicted her for her role in this shootout that resulted in the death of a New Jersey state trooper in 1973. Her death was due to various health problems and the ravages of extreme old age.
Born in 1947, Shakur became a resounding protest during the civil rights movement. In 1984, Fidel Castro welcomed her into political asylum, protecting her from the reach of U.S. authorities. In Cuba, Shakur flourished—she published eight books. She even went so far as to feature in a vice documentary, telling her story and standing up against the political oppression witnessed by many.
In 2013, Assata Shakur was a household name. She was the first woman ever to be put on the FBI’s list of most wanted terrorists. The FBI has slapped a $2 million bounty for any information leading to her capture. This marks the agency’s latest recognition of its commitment to finding a resolution in her case. Shakur boldly proclaimed that the FBI put out an assassination hit on her. She has always maintained that her legal challenges were politically motivated.
The circumstances surrounding her conviction have been a cause for debate. Shakur was shot and arrested during the encounter on the New Jersey Turnpike. She later broke out of prison and fled to Cuba, where she spent almost four decades. Throughout her decades-long life in exile, she was never shy about ridiculing U.S. attempts to extradite her. In doing so, she repackaged herself as a victim of systemic injustice.
Shakur’s legacy is inextricably tied to her family. She was the godmother and step-aunt of slain rapper Tupac Shakur, who cited her as an influence on his music and activism. She became an icon in both social justice movements and popular culture as a result of this connection.
