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Assata Shakur: A 20th Century Escaped Slave
In May 1973, Assata Olugbala Shakur was involved in a shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike in which she was accused of killing New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster and assaulting Trooper James Harper. This resulted in her indictment of first-degree murder of Foerster and seven other felonies related to the shootout. A member of the Black Panther Party, she became a prime target of the Federal Bureau of Investigations Counterintelligence Program. When she joined the Black Liberation Army and went into hiding, between 1973 and 1977, she was placed on the FBIs Most Wanted List for three bank robberies, the kidnapping and murder of two drug dealers, and the attempted murder of two New Jersey police officers. In March 1977 Assata Shakur was convicted of murdering state trooper Werner Forrester and was imprisoned. Two years later she broke out of the maximum-security wing of Clinton Correctional Facility in New Jersey, pistol in hand, as she and three cohorts sped out of the prison grounds. In 1984 she was granted political asylum in Cuba where she has lived ever since. On May 2, 2013, the FBI added her to the Most Wanted Terrorist List, the first woman to be listed. "Assata A 20th Century Escaped Slave" is the story of Assata Shakur, before she became a fugitive and since.
- GenresNonfictionBiography
210 pages, Paperback
Published February 15, 2017
About the author
Barbara Casey
23 books370 followersBarbara Casey is the author of ten award-winning novels and numerous articles, poems, and short stories. She lives on a mountain in northwest Georgia with her three cats who adopted her.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 20, 2017
This book was a fast, informative read. It is about Assata Shakur who was imprisoned and later escaped and fled to Cuba. It centers around the racial tensions in America that have existed for many, many years. She was an advocate of ‘Black rights’.
It is obvious from the beginning that the author did a great amount of research in to Assata’s life. She told the story from a factual point of view, and never gave her opinion as to whether she was wrongly imprisoned or wrongly mistreated. She presented facts, and also included many quotes from Assata’s autobiography. At first the quotes threw me off, but as they kept popping up throughout the book it ended up giving more insight to the story, again without offering opinion.
Assata eventually fled to Cuba, who at the time had strained relations with America. I found the information about Cuba and after she fled, to be the most interesting part of the book. It is interesting to see how far we’ve come, and to read about their perception of racism.
Overall, a very informative, interesting book.
It is obvious from the beginning that the author did a great amount of research in to Assata’s life. She told the story from a factual point of view, and never gave her opinion as to whether she was wrongly imprisoned or wrongly mistreated. She presented facts, and also included many quotes from Assata’s autobiography. At first the quotes threw me off, but as they kept popping up throughout the book it ended up giving more insight to the story, again without offering opinion.
Assata eventually fled to Cuba, who at the time had strained relations with America. I found the information about Cuba and after she fled, to be the most interesting part of the book. It is interesting to see how far we’ve come, and to read about their perception of racism.
Overall, a very informative, interesting book.
April 11, 2017
Assata Shakur: A 20th Century Escaped Slave by Barbara Casey was a well written adult non-fiction book that followed the life of Assata Olugbala Shakur. I personally liked the fact that the book was about Assata Olugbala Shakur both before and after she became a fugitive. I found it interesting to learn about the very first woman to be added to the FBI's Most Wanted List. I found it difficult not to sympathize with her as I was reading about her life and coming to understand her both as a person and as a fugitive. Her choices might not have always been right, but her life did make for an interesting book.
March 16, 2017
To be honest, I had never heard of the name Assata Shakur until this book. Although, to be fair I was not even born until 1982. So, by this time, Assata Shakur was already living in Cuba and a lot of the heat had died down.
I was drawn to this book because I am always intrigued to read people's stories. I got some insight into who Assata Shakur was before she became one of the most sought after women on the FBI's Most Wanted List. The author did a nice job of sharing Assata Shakur story without giving her opinions. She let the readers come to their own conclusions. One bit of information I thought was intriguing was when Assata asked Cubans about their feelings toward blacks or whites that they responded that racism was illegal. In this present day it is sad that people have to deal with racism. This book is a well-written, fast read.
I was drawn to this book because I am always intrigued to read people's stories. I got some insight into who Assata Shakur was before she became one of the most sought after women on the FBI's Most Wanted List. The author did a nice job of sharing Assata Shakur story without giving her opinions. She let the readers come to their own conclusions. One bit of information I thought was intriguing was when Assata asked Cubans about their feelings toward blacks or whites that they responded that racism was illegal. In this present day it is sad that people have to deal with racism. This book is a well-written, fast read.
June 17, 2026
A BALANCED AND INFORMATIVE ACCOUNT
Author Barbara Casey reproduces Assata Shakur’s statement: ‘My name is Assata Shakur, and I am a 20th century escaped slave. Because of government persecution, I was left with no other choice than to flee from the political repression, racism and violence that dominate the U.S. government’s policy towards people of color. I am an ex-political prisoner, and I have been living in exile in Cuba since 1984.” (Pg. vii)
Casey begins this 2017 book by recounting, “On May 2, 1973, around 12:45 a.m., Assata Shakur (born JoAnne Deborah Bryon), the godmother and step-aunt of slain rap star Tupac Shakur, along with Zayd Malik Shakur (born James F. Costan) and Sundiata Acoli (born Clark Squire) were stopped on the New Jersey Turnpike in East Brunswick by State Trooper James Harper for driving with a broken tail light and … ‘slightly’ exceeding the speed limit. After calling the dispatcher and reporting his plans to stop the vehicle he had been following, Harper can be heard to say: ‘Hold on---two black males, one female.’ … Zayd Shakur was driving… Assata Shakur (not related) was seated in the right front seat, and Sundiaa Acoli was in the right rear seat. Trooper Harper asked the driver for his identification and vehicle registration, noticed a discrepancy, asked him to get out of the car, and began to question him at the rear of the vehicle. It was at this point, with the questioning of Zayd Shakur, that a confrontation occurred. In the ensuing shootout, Trooper Foerster [Harper had called for backup] was killed, shot four times, twice by a .38 caliber semiautomatic pistol and twice in the head with his own gun, execution style. Zayd Shakur was also killed, and Assata Shakur were wounded. So begins the story of Assata Shakur and how, now 43 years later at the age of 69, she has come to define herself as a 20th century escaped slave.” (Pg. 9-10)
She notes, “Assata’s birth records have never been found and, therefore, the actual date of when she entered this world is unsubstantiated… the date of July 16, 1947, is what was printed on the FBI Wanted posters, and, therefore, is the date most often used.” [She was born in Queens, and was raised in North Carolina.] (Pg. 10)
She states, “When the NAACP rented a building … just a few doors down… it created a new source of interest for Assata… Integration was what she wanted because she had experienced the degrading, dehumanizing side of segregation in the South as it compared to what she had experienced by living in the North… A few years later she would change her mind, believing that blacks were equally dehumanized in the North as well.” (Pg. 20)
She reports, “Manhattan Community College had a high percentage of black and Third World students… Assata’s perspective on history and current affairs, as well as her own self-image, was changing… she changed her dress to reflect her African roots… She read everything she could … about politics and ideology, and the history of Africans in America… When she joined the republic of New Afrika, she was given the African name, ‘Ybumi Oladele.’ … In 1967, Assata was arrested… [when] students had chained and locked the entrance to a college building to protest a curriculum deficient in black studies and a lack of black faculty.” (Pg. 24-25)
She continues, “In April [of 1967], she married Louis Chesimard who seemed to share her commitment to the Black Liberation struggle. However, the marriage only lasted until December 1970… She describes the brief relationship in her autobiography: 'he was profoundly shocked to learn I had none of his mother’s domestic skills… after a confused and unhappy year, we… called it quits.” (Pg. 25-26)
She states, “With the stated mission of COINTELPRO as her primary motivation, Assata Shakur went to New York and immediately joined the Black Panther Party [BPP]… After being a member for only a short while, Assata was expelled for breaking the rules when she left some Party papers at a meeting unattended, but was then reinstated and reassigned to help coordinate a school breakfast program in East Harlem. At this time, some of Assata’s closest friends in the Party were Afeni Shakur (the mother of … Tupac Shakur)… and Mumia Abu-Jamal… her main two criticisms of the BPP were the macho behavior of males in the Party … and the Party’s lack of focus on black history… Assata soon left the Party, and now [being] divorced… joined the Black Liberation Army (BLA), an underground Black Panther Party splinter organization…” (Pg. 31-32)
She explains, “the Black Liberation Army under the leadership of Eldridge Cleaver… became notorious for allegedly waging war against local police departments… Assata aligned herself with the East Coast Cleaver… faction, and … she became a primary target of the FBI's anti-urban terrorism investigations… By mid-1971, many BPP members … were ‘underground.’” (Pg. 36) “Black Panther JoAnne Chesimiard followed her close friend Zayd Shakur underground… she changed her name… to Assata (she who struggles), Olugbala (love for the people), Shakur (… out of respect for her friend Zayd).” (Pg. 38)
She states, “Meanwhile, the FBI was calling Assata Shakur the ‘revolutionary mother hen’ of a Black Liberation Army cell that had conducted ‘a series of cold-blooded murders of NYC police officers.’” (Pg. 40) Of the fateful May 2 confrontation, a newspaper reporter stated, “State Trooper Harper radioed for backup… Harper [requested] identification from [Assata]… Trooper Foerster found a gun clip while frisking Squire. As the trooper shouted a warning to his colleague, [Assata] pulled a gun and began shooting, hitting Harper in the left shoulder… both [Assata] and Costan fired handguns. Harper shot both passengers… Squire then drove the Pontiac---which contained Assata, who was wounded, and Zayd, who was dead or dying… The vehicle was chased by three patrol cars… Squire then exited the car… Assata walked towards [the troopers] with her bloody arms raised in surrender.” (Pg. 40-41) “Both Acoli and Shakur claimed to have been set up in the traffic stop. Both denied shooting Trooper Foerster.” (Pg. 45)
She reports, “Assata Shakur was indicted ten times between 1973 and 1977, resulting in seven different criminal trials… three … were dismissed without trial; three resulted in acquittals, one in a hung jury, one in a change of venue… and one in a mistrial. Only one, the New Jersey Turnpike shootout, resulted in a conviction.” (Pg. 47)
She continues, “For two years leading up to the capture of her niece, Evelyn Williams and her family … lived in fear that Assata would be killed in a shootout with police… In the series of … trials … Williams [who was an attorney] defended Assata successfully on a number of charges… However, Assata didn’t make it easy for her aunt/attorney… Assata repeatedly disrupted court proceedings, yelling profanities and threats… refusing to stand when the judge entered the courtroom, and performing other acts of disrespect toward the court.” (Pg. 47-49) “At one point, Evelyn Williams asked to be relieved of her duties… Assata Shakur’s loud, disruptive behavior escalated, and she was ejected from the courtroom… Williams was allowed to retire from the case, with Shakur officially representing herself, assisted by activist … Florynce Kennedy.” (Pg. 50-51) While in prison, “she gave birth to her daughter… and custody of the baby was given to Shalur’s mother…” (Pg. 56)
She goes on, “Assata Shakur had been receiving mail from all over the country… she made a tape called, ‘To My People,’ which was broadcast via radio… In her speech she called herself a black revolutionary and denounced… the U.S. legal system… ‘My name is Assata Shakur… and I am … a black revolutionary. By that I mean that I have declared war on all forces that have raped our women, castrated our men, and kept our babies empty-bellied… There is, and always will be, until every black man, woman, and child is free, a Black Liberation Army… We must gain our liberation by any means necessary.” (Pg. 52-53)
During the Turnpike trial, “When she was cross-examined … she was unable to explain how three magazines of ammunition and 16 live shells had gotten into her shoulder bag. She admitted to knowing that Zayd Shakur carried a gun at times… [She] constantly interrupted proceedings by yelling profanities, threatening the judge and jurors… Assata testified that Trooper Harper shot her after she raised her arms… Retracting his previous statements, Trooper Harper said that he had never seen Shakur with a gun and that she did not shoot him… a pathologist … testified that Assata’s bullet scars as well as X-rays supported her claim that her arms were raised.” (Pg. 62-66) “Assata Shakur was convicted on all eight counts: two murder charges, and six assault charges. The prosecution did not need to prove that Assata fired the shots… being an accomplice to murder carries an equivalent life sentence under New Jersey law.” (Pg. 91)
Of course, she escaped prison in 1979: “prison officials never did the requisite background checks… three members of the Black Liberation Army… were being let [into] the visiting center, [and] one of them drew a gun and took the guard hostage… No one was injured during the prison break, including three guards held as hostages…” (Pg. 98) “Assata lived as a fugitive for several years.” (Pg. 109) “In 1984, Assata Shakur fled to Cuba and was granted political asylum.” (Pg. 111) “Until as recently as 2014, Assata freely gave interviews to visiting American journalists… [Cuba] is facing increasing pressure from the United States to extradite her.” (Pg. 118) “In 2013, the FBI announced that it had made Shakur the first woman on its list of most wanted terrorists.” (Pg. 147) She died in Cuba in 2025, at the age of 78.
This book will be of great interest to anyone studying Assata Shakur.
Author Barbara Casey reproduces Assata Shakur’s statement: ‘My name is Assata Shakur, and I am a 20th century escaped slave. Because of government persecution, I was left with no other choice than to flee from the political repression, racism and violence that dominate the U.S. government’s policy towards people of color. I am an ex-political prisoner, and I have been living in exile in Cuba since 1984.” (Pg. vii)
Casey begins this 2017 book by recounting, “On May 2, 1973, around 12:45 a.m., Assata Shakur (born JoAnne Deborah Bryon), the godmother and step-aunt of slain rap star Tupac Shakur, along with Zayd Malik Shakur (born James F. Costan) and Sundiata Acoli (born Clark Squire) were stopped on the New Jersey Turnpike in East Brunswick by State Trooper James Harper for driving with a broken tail light and … ‘slightly’ exceeding the speed limit. After calling the dispatcher and reporting his plans to stop the vehicle he had been following, Harper can be heard to say: ‘Hold on---two black males, one female.’ … Zayd Shakur was driving… Assata Shakur (not related) was seated in the right front seat, and Sundiaa Acoli was in the right rear seat. Trooper Harper asked the driver for his identification and vehicle registration, noticed a discrepancy, asked him to get out of the car, and began to question him at the rear of the vehicle. It was at this point, with the questioning of Zayd Shakur, that a confrontation occurred. In the ensuing shootout, Trooper Foerster [Harper had called for backup] was killed, shot four times, twice by a .38 caliber semiautomatic pistol and twice in the head with his own gun, execution style. Zayd Shakur was also killed, and Assata Shakur were wounded. So begins the story of Assata Shakur and how, now 43 years later at the age of 69, she has come to define herself as a 20th century escaped slave.” (Pg. 9-10)
She notes, “Assata’s birth records have never been found and, therefore, the actual date of when she entered this world is unsubstantiated… the date of July 16, 1947, is what was printed on the FBI Wanted posters, and, therefore, is the date most often used.” [She was born in Queens, and was raised in North Carolina.] (Pg. 10)
She states, “When the NAACP rented a building … just a few doors down… it created a new source of interest for Assata… Integration was what she wanted because she had experienced the degrading, dehumanizing side of segregation in the South as it compared to what she had experienced by living in the North… A few years later she would change her mind, believing that blacks were equally dehumanized in the North as well.” (Pg. 20)
She reports, “Manhattan Community College had a high percentage of black and Third World students… Assata’s perspective on history and current affairs, as well as her own self-image, was changing… she changed her dress to reflect her African roots… She read everything she could … about politics and ideology, and the history of Africans in America… When she joined the republic of New Afrika, she was given the African name, ‘Ybumi Oladele.’ … In 1967, Assata was arrested… [when] students had chained and locked the entrance to a college building to protest a curriculum deficient in black studies and a lack of black faculty.” (Pg. 24-25)
She continues, “In April [of 1967], she married Louis Chesimard who seemed to share her commitment to the Black Liberation struggle. However, the marriage only lasted until December 1970… She describes the brief relationship in her autobiography: 'he was profoundly shocked to learn I had none of his mother’s domestic skills… after a confused and unhappy year, we… called it quits.” (Pg. 25-26)
She states, “With the stated mission of COINTELPRO as her primary motivation, Assata Shakur went to New York and immediately joined the Black Panther Party [BPP]… After being a member for only a short while, Assata was expelled for breaking the rules when she left some Party papers at a meeting unattended, but was then reinstated and reassigned to help coordinate a school breakfast program in East Harlem. At this time, some of Assata’s closest friends in the Party were Afeni Shakur (the mother of … Tupac Shakur)… and Mumia Abu-Jamal… her main two criticisms of the BPP were the macho behavior of males in the Party … and the Party’s lack of focus on black history… Assata soon left the Party, and now [being] divorced… joined the Black Liberation Army (BLA), an underground Black Panther Party splinter organization…” (Pg. 31-32)
She explains, “the Black Liberation Army under the leadership of Eldridge Cleaver… became notorious for allegedly waging war against local police departments… Assata aligned herself with the East Coast Cleaver… faction, and … she became a primary target of the FBI's anti-urban terrorism investigations… By mid-1971, many BPP members … were ‘underground.’” (Pg. 36) “Black Panther JoAnne Chesimiard followed her close friend Zayd Shakur underground… she changed her name… to Assata (she who struggles), Olugbala (love for the people), Shakur (… out of respect for her friend Zayd).” (Pg. 38)
She states, “Meanwhile, the FBI was calling Assata Shakur the ‘revolutionary mother hen’ of a Black Liberation Army cell that had conducted ‘a series of cold-blooded murders of NYC police officers.’” (Pg. 40) Of the fateful May 2 confrontation, a newspaper reporter stated, “State Trooper Harper radioed for backup… Harper [requested] identification from [Assata]… Trooper Foerster found a gun clip while frisking Squire. As the trooper shouted a warning to his colleague, [Assata] pulled a gun and began shooting, hitting Harper in the left shoulder… both [Assata] and Costan fired handguns. Harper shot both passengers… Squire then drove the Pontiac---which contained Assata, who was wounded, and Zayd, who was dead or dying… The vehicle was chased by three patrol cars… Squire then exited the car… Assata walked towards [the troopers] with her bloody arms raised in surrender.” (Pg. 40-41) “Both Acoli and Shakur claimed to have been set up in the traffic stop. Both denied shooting Trooper Foerster.” (Pg. 45)
She reports, “Assata Shakur was indicted ten times between 1973 and 1977, resulting in seven different criminal trials… three … were dismissed without trial; three resulted in acquittals, one in a hung jury, one in a change of venue… and one in a mistrial. Only one, the New Jersey Turnpike shootout, resulted in a conviction.” (Pg. 47)
She continues, “For two years leading up to the capture of her niece, Evelyn Williams and her family … lived in fear that Assata would be killed in a shootout with police… In the series of … trials … Williams [who was an attorney] defended Assata successfully on a number of charges… However, Assata didn’t make it easy for her aunt/attorney… Assata repeatedly disrupted court proceedings, yelling profanities and threats… refusing to stand when the judge entered the courtroom, and performing other acts of disrespect toward the court.” (Pg. 47-49) “At one point, Evelyn Williams asked to be relieved of her duties… Assata Shakur’s loud, disruptive behavior escalated, and she was ejected from the courtroom… Williams was allowed to retire from the case, with Shakur officially representing herself, assisted by activist … Florynce Kennedy.” (Pg. 50-51) While in prison, “she gave birth to her daughter… and custody of the baby was given to Shalur’s mother…” (Pg. 56)
She goes on, “Assata Shakur had been receiving mail from all over the country… she made a tape called, ‘To My People,’ which was broadcast via radio… In her speech she called herself a black revolutionary and denounced… the U.S. legal system… ‘My name is Assata Shakur… and I am … a black revolutionary. By that I mean that I have declared war on all forces that have raped our women, castrated our men, and kept our babies empty-bellied… There is, and always will be, until every black man, woman, and child is free, a Black Liberation Army… We must gain our liberation by any means necessary.” (Pg. 52-53)
During the Turnpike trial, “When she was cross-examined … she was unable to explain how three magazines of ammunition and 16 live shells had gotten into her shoulder bag. She admitted to knowing that Zayd Shakur carried a gun at times… [She] constantly interrupted proceedings by yelling profanities, threatening the judge and jurors… Assata testified that Trooper Harper shot her after she raised her arms… Retracting his previous statements, Trooper Harper said that he had never seen Shakur with a gun and that she did not shoot him… a pathologist … testified that Assata’s bullet scars as well as X-rays supported her claim that her arms were raised.” (Pg. 62-66) “Assata Shakur was convicted on all eight counts: two murder charges, and six assault charges. The prosecution did not need to prove that Assata fired the shots… being an accomplice to murder carries an equivalent life sentence under New Jersey law.” (Pg. 91)
Of course, she escaped prison in 1979: “prison officials never did the requisite background checks… three members of the Black Liberation Army… were being let [into] the visiting center, [and] one of them drew a gun and took the guard hostage… No one was injured during the prison break, including three guards held as hostages…” (Pg. 98) “Assata lived as a fugitive for several years.” (Pg. 109) “In 1984, Assata Shakur fled to Cuba and was granted political asylum.” (Pg. 111) “Until as recently as 2014, Assata freely gave interviews to visiting American journalists… [Cuba] is facing increasing pressure from the United States to extradite her.” (Pg. 118) “In 2013, the FBI announced that it had made Shakur the first woman on its list of most wanted terrorists.” (Pg. 147) She died in Cuba in 2025, at the age of 78.
This book will be of great interest to anyone studying Assata Shakur.
June 24, 2017
In selecting Assata Shakur for this engaging biographical treatment, Barbara Casey faced a formidable challenge profiling one of the more incendiary figures of 20th century racial politics. Under the pen of a lesser author, this work would have been undermined by the injection of judgmental prose.
Still ensconced in Cuba where she fled seeking political asylum, Shakur remains an intensely polarizing figure. To her credit, Casey keeps her opinions to herself, delivering a balanced account of the life and legacy of the legendary Shakur. By not force-feeding readers an agenda (there sure is enough inflammatory commentary written on both sides of the Shakur debate) Casey allows the reader to form their own bias (or reinforce exiting viewpoints).
This is also just solid storytelling. Meticulously researched, Casey provides a robust roadmap for Shakur from her rise as a black activist and member of the left-wing Black Liberation Army, to her involvement in a series of high-profile crimes, including the a multi-state manhunt and the May 1973 shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike, resulting in the death of a N.J. State Trooper. Convicted of the murder in 1977, Shakur’s time in prison is chronicled by Casey, as was Shakur’s escape in 1979, and subsequent flight to Cuba in 1984 where she gained political asylum. Casey effectively paces this harrowing account, while also enriching this work with critical contextual narrative. Ultimately, regardless what you think of the first woman named to the Most Wanted Terrorist List, this is a highly recommended read that adds to the discussion.
Still ensconced in Cuba where she fled seeking political asylum, Shakur remains an intensely polarizing figure. To her credit, Casey keeps her opinions to herself, delivering a balanced account of the life and legacy of the legendary Shakur. By not force-feeding readers an agenda (there sure is enough inflammatory commentary written on both sides of the Shakur debate) Casey allows the reader to form their own bias (or reinforce exiting viewpoints).
This is also just solid storytelling. Meticulously researched, Casey provides a robust roadmap for Shakur from her rise as a black activist and member of the left-wing Black Liberation Army, to her involvement in a series of high-profile crimes, including the a multi-state manhunt and the May 1973 shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike, resulting in the death of a N.J. State Trooper. Convicted of the murder in 1977, Shakur’s time in prison is chronicled by Casey, as was Shakur’s escape in 1979, and subsequent flight to Cuba in 1984 where she gained political asylum. Casey effectively paces this harrowing account, while also enriching this work with critical contextual narrative. Ultimately, regardless what you think of the first woman named to the Most Wanted Terrorist List, this is a highly recommended read that adds to the discussion.
December 12, 2019
It was well written and gave a good account of the times and what she was faced with for her political beliefs.
April 10, 2017
This book is a detailed look at the life of Assata Shakur. This was my first time hearing about this important woman and I enjoyed learning about her life, her struggles, her fight against the law and then later her political asylum in Cuba. I was shocked to find out that she was the first woman to be added to the Most Wanted Terrorist List!
It is a detailed look at each of the events leading up to her political asylum and the information is given to us with just the facts – no judgement given to her nor the police, just the facts as they were laid out for all during that time. Barbara keeps that neutral fact sharing throughout the whole book which readers will appreciate.
The book does not give a detailed look into her personal life but more of her life as a political protestor and then prisoner. We are given the history of that time period, the facts that surround her accusations, her escape and later her time spent in Cuba. The only thing I found a bit difficult to follow was at times I felt like the book jumped back and forth between time frames. I found myself going back to re-read chapters to ensure I understood what was happening, I am not sure if this was because I wasn’t familiar enough with her history or because of the way the book was written.
This is a great book that gives you a detailed (but quick) look at the life of Assata, her struggles, her accusations and then her life in Cuba after being granted political asylum. It will definitely spark interest in her life and make you want more.
It is a detailed look at each of the events leading up to her political asylum and the information is given to us with just the facts – no judgement given to her nor the police, just the facts as they were laid out for all during that time. Barbara keeps that neutral fact sharing throughout the whole book which readers will appreciate.
The book does not give a detailed look into her personal life but more of her life as a political protestor and then prisoner. We are given the history of that time period, the facts that surround her accusations, her escape and later her time spent in Cuba. The only thing I found a bit difficult to follow was at times I felt like the book jumped back and forth between time frames. I found myself going back to re-read chapters to ensure I understood what was happening, I am not sure if this was because I wasn’t familiar enough with her history or because of the way the book was written.
This is a great book that gives you a detailed (but quick) look at the life of Assata, her struggles, her accusations and then her life in Cuba after being granted political asylum. It will definitely spark interest in her life and make you want more.
April 18, 2017
Casey offers a Well Written, Well Researched Biographical Piece on the Life and Times of Shakur. While the book is certainly about Assata Shakur--the author offers a great deal of detail into the world surrounding this woman. Readers will learn about Shakur's family, associates, activities, and the growth of her activism over her lifetime. For those readers fairly unfamiliar with the many cases linked to Assata Shakur in the 60's and 70's--the author helps us understand the connections of Shakur to various activist organizations--and the roles of those groups in social justice, activites (criminal and non-criminal), and social unrest during the times of Shakur's alleged crimes.
Casey Writes a Book Based in Facts. Readers are not going to leave the book with much of Casey's direct opinions about Assata Shakur nor about her crimes. They will; instead, find dates, times, places, activities, words from Shakur herself, information from trials, details from the police, and numerous sources that help create the story of this political prisoner. I like Casey's mostly unbiased presentation of both sides of the story. She isn't trying to rationalize Shakur's actions or activities--nor condemn them. She is simply presenting a life story that many of us are not old enough to remember--and many have forgotten over time.
Would I recommend Assata Shakur: A 20th Century Escaped Slave? This book is one for anyone with an interest in racial activism, social injustice, and true crime writing. For many readers, it will offer some deeper thoughts into recent issues in the U.S. relative to race and police interaction. It is difficult to read a politically/socially charged book--and not form an opinion of blame or of understanding. Casey offers readers a number of facts about Shakur--and her life both before and after for her escape from a U.S. prison to Cuba. There were a few times when I needed to reread a section to keep everything in proper time/space order--but, found it very detailed and well formatted. This book is a wonderful learning opportunity for those interested in Shakur's life and background in the Black Liberation movement.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author or publisher. All opinions are my own.
Casey Writes a Book Based in Facts. Readers are not going to leave the book with much of Casey's direct opinions about Assata Shakur nor about her crimes. They will; instead, find dates, times, places, activities, words from Shakur herself, information from trials, details from the police, and numerous sources that help create the story of this political prisoner. I like Casey's mostly unbiased presentation of both sides of the story. She isn't trying to rationalize Shakur's actions or activities--nor condemn them. She is simply presenting a life story that many of us are not old enough to remember--and many have forgotten over time.
Would I recommend Assata Shakur: A 20th Century Escaped Slave? This book is one for anyone with an interest in racial activism, social injustice, and true crime writing. For many readers, it will offer some deeper thoughts into recent issues in the U.S. relative to race and police interaction. It is difficult to read a politically/socially charged book--and not form an opinion of blame or of understanding. Casey offers readers a number of facts about Shakur--and her life both before and after for her escape from a U.S. prison to Cuba. There were a few times when I needed to reread a section to keep everything in proper time/space order--but, found it very detailed and well formatted. This book is a wonderful learning opportunity for those interested in Shakur's life and background in the Black Liberation movement.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author or publisher. All opinions are my own.
April 24, 2017
I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.
I have read several of Barbara Casey’s books including the nonfiction book Kathryn Kelly, so I was happy to read this book. It definitely wasn’t “pleasure reading” but it was interesting and informative. The beginning was a detailed history, a little too detailed for my liking, but that’s just me.
It was obvious that Barbara Casey did a lot of research on Assata Shakur and I was impressed that she just reported the facts and remained neutral throughout the book.
I was a teen in the ’70s and although I had heard of the Black Liberation Army and the Black Panthers, I had never heard of Assata Shakur, which surprised me. Even though I lived through those times, I learned a lot.
Whether she belonged in prison or not, I was shocked at her treatment while in prison. There’s no justification for continued solitary confinement and this is the first time I’ve heard of a woman being kept in a men’s prison. That’s just crazy.
Assata Shakur is an interesting read about a current fugitive who has political asylum in Cuba. I wonder if that will last given our improved relations with Cuba? Barbara Casey did mention that Assata Shakur used to be more out in the open than she is now.
I have read several of Barbara Casey’s books including the nonfiction book Kathryn Kelly, so I was happy to read this book. It definitely wasn’t “pleasure reading” but it was interesting and informative. The beginning was a detailed history, a little too detailed for my liking, but that’s just me.
It was obvious that Barbara Casey did a lot of research on Assata Shakur and I was impressed that she just reported the facts and remained neutral throughout the book.
I was a teen in the ’70s and although I had heard of the Black Liberation Army and the Black Panthers, I had never heard of Assata Shakur, which surprised me. Even though I lived through those times, I learned a lot.
Whether she belonged in prison or not, I was shocked at her treatment while in prison. There’s no justification for continued solitary confinement and this is the first time I’ve heard of a woman being kept in a men’s prison. That’s just crazy.
Assata Shakur is an interesting read about a current fugitive who has political asylum in Cuba. I wonder if that will last given our improved relations with Cuba? Barbara Casey did mention that Assata Shakur used to be more out in the open than she is now.
April 27, 2017
This is one of those reads that you aren’t sure what you are going to get when you open the cover.
There was a lot of detail, information, and history that I wasn’t aware of.
I love learning about history, the things that happened, and the people that were involved. I enjoyed that the author tried to keep the details as factual as possible based on research rather than being biased in the storyline.
I will admit that parts of the book were difficult for me to read through because of my own personal beliefs and values. I have a hard time really wrapping my mind around racism and segregation so to read about it; to read the details; and to hear the things that people did to other people made it difficult at times.
All in all, I enjoyed reading about Assata and learning a new piece of history that I may have never known otherwise.
There was a lot of detail, information, and history that I wasn’t aware of.
I love learning about history, the things that happened, and the people that were involved. I enjoyed that the author tried to keep the details as factual as possible based on research rather than being biased in the storyline.
I will admit that parts of the book were difficult for me to read through because of my own personal beliefs and values. I have a hard time really wrapping my mind around racism and segregation so to read about it; to read the details; and to hear the things that people did to other people made it difficult at times.
All in all, I enjoyed reading about Assata and learning a new piece of history that I may have never known otherwise.
April 27, 2017
Before reading this book I had no idea who Assata Shakur was. Why was she on the FBI's list of Most Wanted Terrorists and what had she done to get there? Author Barbara Casey has written a biography on the life of Joanne Chesimard a.k.a. Assata Shakur, who considers herself a Black revolutionary.
While reading this book I was motivated to do research and I learned that Assata is considered a folk hero among the black community because of her continued fight for freedom from the influence of white supremacists. In the 1970s she was part of the Black Liberation Army, who used any means viable for their cause such as robbing banks to support their activities. She was found guilty of the murder of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster and sentenced to life, even though she was unarmed. She states she is not guilty of that crime. She escaped to Cuba where she was legitimately granted political asylum and where she still lives.
Barbara Casey covers some of Assata's early life but most of the book is on how she got involved with her political activities and the infamous trial that put her 4 years in a men's prison where she was mistreated, beaten and lived under inhumane conditions before she was found guilty. She was also kept 18 months in solitary confinement. During this time she was also pregnant and gave birth to her daughter. This was one tough woman to have endured such treatment that would have broken a weaker person.
This book was interesting to me because it showed how flawed and racist the American judicial system is and how using violence and hate to fight a corrupt system is no better than the system itself. Those who fought racism and injustice with peace such as Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. understood that hate begets hate and violence begets violence.
Anyone interested in human rights, the judicial system, the law, political history, and the struggle of the black community would be interested in this book. Barbara Casey has done extensive research and based her information on "federal and state court records and files, FBI memoranda and documents, secret service files, police records, and information in the media." She includes a bibliography and an index that is helpful.
This book is a good study of a very controversial and infamous case that could become once again a headliner now that USA has restored some diplomatic relations with Cuba and wants Assata returned.
While reading this book I was motivated to do research and I learned that Assata is considered a folk hero among the black community because of her continued fight for freedom from the influence of white supremacists. In the 1970s she was part of the Black Liberation Army, who used any means viable for their cause such as robbing banks to support their activities. She was found guilty of the murder of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster and sentenced to life, even though she was unarmed. She states she is not guilty of that crime. She escaped to Cuba where she was legitimately granted political asylum and where she still lives.
Barbara Casey covers some of Assata's early life but most of the book is on how she got involved with her political activities and the infamous trial that put her 4 years in a men's prison where she was mistreated, beaten and lived under inhumane conditions before she was found guilty. She was also kept 18 months in solitary confinement. During this time she was also pregnant and gave birth to her daughter. This was one tough woman to have endured such treatment that would have broken a weaker person.
This book was interesting to me because it showed how flawed and racist the American judicial system is and how using violence and hate to fight a corrupt system is no better than the system itself. Those who fought racism and injustice with peace such as Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. understood that hate begets hate and violence begets violence.
Anyone interested in human rights, the judicial system, the law, political history, and the struggle of the black community would be interested in this book. Barbara Casey has done extensive research and based her information on "federal and state court records and files, FBI memoranda and documents, secret service files, police records, and information in the media." She includes a bibliography and an index that is helpful.
This book is a good study of a very controversial and infamous case that could become once again a headliner now that USA has restored some diplomatic relations with Cuba and wants Assata returned.
April 28, 2017
Assata Shakur's life will keep you breathless
This is my second book that I read from the author Ms. Barbara Casey. Just like my first book, I also loved reading the life and legacy of Assata Shakur.
I loved to watch documentary especially about criminals on TV. It intrigues me and there is something unique about learning profile of criminals. Capturing them from the best authorities even mesmerizes me.
Reading this book not only you learned from history but usually how Assata Shakur's life from the beginning to the end as being fugitive. What I loved about her is? She will not allow anybody to step on her toes because she is a black woman. This girl is feisty and loved her even more.
History is a beautiful subject to learned so as this book. It is educational, thrilling at the same time phenomenal. Life is about experienced and this book will teaches you a lot more life itself. I loved that this book is about woman fugitive. It seldom happen that a woman is a fugitive and even captured my mind to read it even more.
This is my second book that I read from the author Ms. Barbara Casey. Just like my first book, I also loved reading the life and legacy of Assata Shakur.
I loved to watch documentary especially about criminals on TV. It intrigues me and there is something unique about learning profile of criminals. Capturing them from the best authorities even mesmerizes me.
Reading this book not only you learned from history but usually how Assata Shakur's life from the beginning to the end as being fugitive. What I loved about her is? She will not allow anybody to step on her toes because she is a black woman. This girl is feisty and loved her even more.
History is a beautiful subject to learned so as this book. It is educational, thrilling at the same time phenomenal. Life is about experienced and this book will teaches you a lot more life itself. I loved that this book is about woman fugitive. It seldom happen that a woman is a fugitive and even captured my mind to read it even more.
January 27, 2018
I really enjoyed reading this book, but I would recommend ‘Assata an autobiography’ more
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