In August 2024, the YouTube Educational Channel “Ubuntu El Retorno” will be educating on “Black August” its meaning, origins, etc. The only stories that we learn about the most are the ones that talk about the 500+ years ago capture, transport, and centuries of Africans chattel enslavement to the “Americas”. Seldomly, we learn about the stories of those Africans and African descendants who resisted and changed and continue to change history.
Throughout time in the United States, African Americans who continued to resist black oppression and white supremacy are criminalized and jailed. In the 1970’s it wasn’t any different. The assassination of 27-year-old W.L. Nolan, 23-year-old Alvin Juggs Miller and 21-year-old Cleveland Edwards in Soledad prison yard by a correctional officer, continued to raise awareness in black consciousness. In 1966 in San Quentin prison W.L. Nolan along with George Jackson founded the Black Guerrilla Family an African American political organization based on Marxist and Maoist ideology and had goals of eradicating racism, and maintaining dignity in prison. George Jackson, was also an author (famous book Blood in My Eye), and an activist. Hewas one of the three Soledad Brothers, who were accused of killing an officer, which meant life in prison. He was shot and killed while trying to escape from prison at age 29.
The Soledad Brothers Defense Committee was formed by Fay Stender. Among the several celebrities, writers, and left-wing political activists that supported the SBDC and their cause were Julian Bond, Kay Boyle, Marlon Brando, Jane Fonda, Noam Chomsky, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Allen Ginsberg, Tom Hayden, William Kunstler, Jessica Mitford, Linus Pauling, Pete Seeger, Benjamin Spock, Angela Davis, California State Senator Mervyn Dymally and the California Legislative Black Caucus. Stender also arranged the publication of Soledad Brother: The Prison Letters of Jackson, which was to contain various letters written by Jackson while in prison detailing his time spent in the prison throughout the trial.
In 1979 the first Black August was celebrated. It was created to commemorate and honor past and present political prisoners, freedom fighters and martyrs of the Black freedom struggle, those who have been fighting for the struggle but have been targeted by the system. Black August’s has its principles. During the month, one commits to higher levels of discipline, this can include fasting, frequent physical exercise, political study, and engagement in political struggle.
The African American Mumia Abu Jamal a very important political figure and political prisoner on death row has given a breakdown of Black August. He included events in history that go way back in time and deals with revolutionary changes in the African Diaspora, during this time of the year:
August – “1619 Project” – Africans were unloaded from a ship in the English colony of Jamestown, Virginia, U.S.
August 1791 – Slave insurrection begins in Northen St. Domingue (Haiti).
August 1795 – Toussaint Louverture launched full scale attack in St. Domingue (Haiti).
August 1831 – Nat Turner’s Rebellion, historically known as the Southampton Insurrection, was a slave rebellion that took place in Southampton County, Virginia, U.S.. It was the deadliest slave revolt for the latter racial group in U.S. history.
August 1859 – John Brown (a white man) began preparations to lead a raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (which became West Virginia), U.S. intending to start a slave liberation movement that would spread south.
August 1863 – Gregorio Duperron (changed name to Luperón) an African descendant lead theRestauration war between the Dominican Republic and Spain, driving Spain out. He became the 28th president.
Ubuntu El Retorno YTC, will also include, in more detail, these and other events. It will alsocommemorate and honor those in Africa who were capture and who ran away and would be punished for their defiance. Sadly, in Ghana for example, the name of the rock the captives would be beaten was called the Punishment Rock it was renamed the “Resistance Rock”. Also, those who chose to dive from the human-slave cargo ships to seek personal freedom in the ocean.Those in Africa and African descendants who continue to carry the torch of liberation and resilience, that have been forgotten, who resisted the system of colonization and greatly contributed to the liberation and independence of Nations including Latin America. As well as an interview with African American scholar activist Dr. Timothy Owens Moore, Neuroscientist,trained Physiological Psychologist, author, etc.
“In a society where people who colonized/oppress others think a certain way and people who are colonized/oppressed are now in an oppressed mentality. Black August is a time to reflect on that to create a change in our lives for the betterment of oneself and humanity.” Dr. T. Owens Moore.
The “National Equity Project” reminds us that we need Black August now more than ever.
