Assata Shakur, who is better known as Joanne Chesimard, died at 78. She leaves behind a rich legacy that exemplifies her commitment to liberation as being revolutionary and fugitive. Shakur, a radical member of the Black Liberation Army, achieved notoriety for her extensive history. In 1977, Joan was convicted for the death of a New Jersey State trooper. After she broke out of jail two years post her conviction, she found temporary asylum in Cuba. In 1984, Fidel Castro granted her political asylum, though she never went to Havana, and she became an international symbol of resistance to police abuses.
Born in 1947, Shakur’s life took a dramatic turn when she was convicted of killing trooper Werner Foerster during a shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike. Though initially sentenced to life imprisonment, she eventually escaped in 1979 with the aid of friends and supporters who helped her secure her release. This act of defiance would cement her place as an iconic figure of resistance. This was at a moment when the FBI was conducting massive, unnecessary invasive surveillance against leftist organizations.
In Cuba, Shakur found her long-term new home, where she lived for decades under the protection of the Cuban government. Though her life there was filled with freedom, it was characterized by her isolation. In the intervening years, she kept busy, writing and co-writing five books and appearing in numerous documentaries. She also staged visits for students, imparting her life experiences and realizations about activism and resistance.
Her complicated relationship with her godson, rapper Tupac Shakur, provided a dramatic intimacy to her loaded story. Sadly, her influence on him would not last long. In June of that same year, she died of tuberculosis. Her influence in turn inspired his creative expression and social activism.
Even while living in relative freedom, though, Shakur’s life in Cuba was not without difficulties. The Trump administration cited her asylum as one of the principal reasons for reinstating Cuba on its list of countries that support terrorism. Besides this, Shakur manifested awareness of the implications of her exile, recognizing how her presence negatively impacted the conditions in her host nation.
“I know they use me to punish Cuba and I am sorry for that.” – Assata Shakur
During her years in Cuba, Shakur repeatedly expressed concern about being a political exile. She thought she was targeted for assassination by U.S. agents and questioned the motives behind their actions.
“Isn’t that where the CIA does all their recruiting?” – Assata Shakur
Her visibility around Cuba often attracted attention from Cuban nationals and foreign tourists. During an annual May Day parade in Havana, she was spotted in the VIP section, a rare public appearance that highlighted both her celebrity status and the complexities of her life as a fugitive.
Once during a tense encounter with a cop in Cuba, Shakur pointed out the absurdity of her plight.
“He thought I was a tourist, if he only knew.” – Assata Shakur
As a result, Shakur was placed on the FBI’s list of most wanted fugitives, with a now-historic $2 million bounty on her head. Still, she was able to go for decades without being disturbed. Her story reflects broader themes of political dissent and the struggle against oppression, serving as a reminder of the ongoing fight for justice faced by many activists.
