The Struggle of Assata Shakur

Asset mover and shaker is a really strong and determined individual that refused to give up her article of beliefs and ideas to receive her freedom. When she was incarcerated, treated give care an animal, beaten to a bloody pulp and lost all basic human rightlys, she only grew to a greater extent stronger and determined. Shaker was a semi policy-making prison house houseer and suffered because of her Black lynx & Black Liberation Army affiliation. She dog-tired six years in prison for crimes that she was not proven to have d unmatched or had any(prenominal) connection to.Most people would have given up and sold out to get their freedom back, she didnt because she exactly took it back Shakers life changed dramatically on the night of May 2, 1973 on the New Jersey turnpike when tea caddy Mali Shaker, Sundials Coli and her car was stopped because of a taillight. After an altercation between Caddy Shaker and state trooper harpist, shots were fired which left Trooper Forest er and Caddy Shaker dead, Asset Shaker and Trooper Harper wounded. Shakers autobiography does a great Job detailing the event. Shaker descri render the experience saying Caddy was dead.My mind knew that Caddy was dead. The air was standardised cold glass. Huge bubbles rose and burst. Each one matte up like an explosion in my chest. My mouth tasted like blood and dirt. The car spun round me and something like catch some Zs overtook me. In the background I could hear what sounded like gunfire. But I was fading and dreaming. (Asset 3) She was beaten very badly during the ordeal. The officers were very brutal towards her because they knew she was involved in the Black Panther Party and cute instruction out of her. Where did they go?Pitch youd better open your doomed mouth or Ill blow your goddamn head off (Asset 3) was how these officers talked to her. She doesnt say a word. This is another example of her showing her resilience in an unbecoming time. She was in tremendous amoun t of pain. Shaker said l felt myself beingness dragged by the feet crosswise the pavement. My chest was on fire. My blouse was purple with blood. I was convinced that my arm had been shot off and was hanging inner my shirt by a few strips of flesh. I could not feel it. (Asset 3) Eventually the ambulance came and got Shaker.She act to tell but only bubbled at the mouth. She blacked out during the ride to the hospital. She gets to the hospital where she is interrogated by every person that is around her. The police felt that her capture could lead to the capture of many other African American governmental leaders if she cooperated with authorities. If these leaders were captured, that would be a serious blow to the movement. Asset sat handcuffed to a bed as detective after detective asked questions a fe manly chest the Black Liberation Army. She said Detectives and more(prenominal) detectives. Questions and more QuestionsNow they want to know about the Black Liberation Army how big is it what cities is it inwho is in it, etc. ,etc. (Asset 8) If Shaker talked, that may have lead to the end of the BLAB or Black Panther Party because the FBI and CONTINENTS was desperate for the end of these groups. The purpose of CONTINENTS (Counter Intelligence Program) was to infiltrate, discredit and disrupt any domestic political organization (such as BLAB or the Black Panther Party). It was lead by the FBI and played a critical role during this time period. The information that Shaker could have given the FBI could have lead to the oddment of these organizations.But Shaker remained uncooperative throughout her rest in the hospital and even during her indictment. She did not say anything bout her party or its members, nor the activities of the groups. Her time in the hospital became better as her body healed and the roast from the officers stopped. A short time later Shaker was transported from the hospital to Middlesex County jail. It seemed like the middle of the n ight A wheelchair was waiting for me. I figured they were taking me to Jail said Shaker describing the experience. (Asset 45) Shakers status as a political activist would affect her greatly in prison.The federal authorities wanted Shaker unaffectionate from all the other prisoners because they did not ant her to spread her radical ideas to any of the other prisoners which could possibly top in a revolt. Her cell was isolated from all the other prisoners and was patrolled by guards at all times. In prison, Shaker was subjected to the nihilistic ideas that she encountered on the outside. During this time blacks were treated as lower class citizens. Society wanted to keep African Americans in the same ghettos and isolate us from the nicer neighborhoods (domestic colonialism).They did this by racial profiling (Asset Shakers stay on the turnpike), police highly populating certain areas and raising ricers to live in certain areas. These methods create a sensation of self-worthlessness inside of a person which oft lead to crime. This trend often leads to African Americans being arrested and incarcerated. Once in prison, the system has now taken the little power that the person once had (the right to vote, speak etc. ) The prisoner now becomes more like property, which is Just like slavery in a sense because prisoners perform labor for free. Shaker and her party took a different cuddle to the nihilistic feeling.They wanted to fight the oppressor and take what they deserved. This is why the BLAB and Black Panther Party was so feared by the government. Government knew that these groups carried an any means necessary mentality which meant that they would use violence if needed. Conservatism was the belief that many government officials believed during this time period. They did not want the the social or political structure of troupe to change. This is where the conflict occur. African Americans were not receiving equal treatment which means that if society were t o remain the same African Americans would al representations be second-rate citizens.Black people shared a liberal view in the sense hat liberty and equality for all. The liberal view was the driving force behind every African American group or movement for equality/ civil rights. Shaker would remain in prison for six years bouncing from correctional facility to correctional facility as authorities act to make it as inconvenient as possible for her and her loved ones. She was eventually able to escape from prison and currently lives in Cuba in isolation, but many political prisoners like her are unable to escape. frequently these people remain in prison for very long periods of times because of their beliefs.Shaker would have been the same way but she was fortunate enough to escape. These people have great pride and integrity because they are will to withstand any abuse or consequence they might receive for doing what they believe is right. Shaker is one of those special people an d her story shows it. Shakers story Asset documented her life and experiences very accurately and allowed for the reader to relate to her experiences. I was able to view her as an overall person and not Just an political leader. Her childhood stories in certain chapters showed her more as a normal, everyday person.While her stories of her arrest or stay in prison show how strong of a woman she really was. Shaker was a sincerely extraordinary person. Many people would have crumbled under the circumstances she endured. She fought social injustices, cultural struggles and economic forces. Her gentility was a pure example of the life of most people. Blacks were compressed in certain communities where crime and drugs were often used as temporary outlets to a better world, but Shaker chose a different path. She chose to be an leader in the community and fight for civil rights.She did not settle for Ewing the victim, she played the cards she were dealt and tried the best she could. The ironic part about everything is the same problems that she encountered back then, exist today. The trolley Martin case shows how turn tail has not changed much in this country. White Society viewed this small woman Asset Shaker like a huge criminal, Just like society wants to paint the picture that an unarmed Bibb black male could harm an armed white man. Shaker legacy and deeds did help African Americans, but the Tramway Martin case (along with countless others) make you ask how much? .