by Kijana Tashiri Askari

For the past 10 years in particular, CDCR state operatives have been steadfast in criminalizing the historical-cultural legacy of Black August, under the false pretense of it being a BGF (Black Guerrilla Family) prison gang concept that promotes violence against CDCR’s state operatives. And therefore the commemoration of the Black August memorial over this 10-year period has constituted an alleged threat to the safety and security of California’s slave kamps, i.e., prisons, which has led to several New Afrikan Black captives being arbitrarily placed on indefinite solitary confinement status as alleged prison gang members.

However, on Feb. 22, 2010, Judge Susan Illston of the U.S. District Court issued a court ruling that stated in part:

“Defendants appear to contend that a categorical ban on things related to Black August is proper, as they have not identified any particular statement about Black August in Harrison’s mail that actually ‘might be thought to encourage violence.’ Procunier v.Martinez, 416 US at 416. Black August commemorates some people who prison officials may not think are worthy of commemorating, but the defendants have not made an adequate showing of such a close connection between the BGF and Black August that the court could find it undisputed that mail pertaining to Black August actually encouraged violence.” See Harrison v. I.G.I., Case No. C-07-3824-SI, 2010 US Dist. Lexis 14944, dated Feb. 22, 2010, page 10.

I would like to make it absolutely clear that Black August is not a prison gang concept, and it definitely does not entail the promotion of any violence! Black August is a viable community concept that has been constructed under political, social, cultural, economic and spiritual values that speak to the advancement and the building of the class interests of our New Afrikan Nation. So as we continue to wage struggle via our collective efforts to be liberated from the yoke of U.$. colonial oppression, it is imperative for all New Afrikan Black people to have a true and correct understanding as to what Black August resistance really means.

Black August resistance represents the highest consciousness of Afrikan people – consciousness which allows for no quarter of submission, capitulation or abandonment to the unrighteous, decadent, exploitative ways of U.$. imperialism. It is a consciousness which is bred in defiant, fierce and intrepid struggle against all which is exploitative, oppressive and dehumanizing. Read more....