july 16, 1947, former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army Assata Olugbala Shakur was born in Jamaica, Queens, New York City, New York. She began using the name Assata Olugbala Shakur in 1971, rejecting Joanne Chesimard as a “slave name”. Assata is a West African name, derived from the Arabic name Aisha said to mean “she who struggles”, while Shakur means, “thankful one” in Arabic. Olugbala means “savior” in Yoruba. She now identified as an African and felt her old name no longer fit: “It sounded so strange when people called me Joanne. It really had nothing to do with me. I didn’t feel like no Joanne, or no negro, or no amerikan. I felt like an African woman”, she stated. She is the sister of Tupac’s mother Afeni Shakur’s ex husband Mutulu Shakur (who is currently incarcerated in the United States Penitentiary, Victorville) making her the step aunt of Tupac Shakur and in addition his Godmother. Assata currently resides in Cuba, escaping America who once considered her the biggest threat to the country. Assata is a warrior and made a choice not to be subject to oppression. I aspire to one day have the stregnth, wisdom and will of this Cancer legend.

Assata Shakur interview in Cuba, 1996

 

For more in-depth information on Assatta Shakur, I highly recommend reading her autobiography. It is available on Ebay, at Barnes & Noble (call and ask your location beforehand), Walmart, Target etc.