Assata autobiography synopsis of hunger
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Summary of Chapter 11 from "Assata" by Assata ShakurArraignment and Indictment On July 19, , Assata Shakur is taken to court in Brooklyn for arraignment on an indictment related to an alleged bank robbery in Queens. Despite being unaware of various charges against her, the publicity surrounding this specific indictment makes it impossible to ignore. A mug shot is taken, and she pleads not guilty before returning to the workhouse. Photographic Controversy in Court In January , Assata is brought back to court for a motion proposing that she be photographed to match a bank surveillance image. She refuses, suspecting a setup by the FBI, leading to a violent confrontation in the courtroom as federal marshals forcibly try to photograph her. Her lawyer, Evelyn, captures the assault on record, highlighting the misconduct and bias of the judicial system against her. Reflection on the Legal System Following the courtroom incident, Evelyn expresses concern for Assata's well-being while also discussing strategies to challenge the judge's bias, culminating in the judge's removal from the case. Assata then faces charges of kidnapping a drug dealer, Ronald Myers and Rema Olugbala join her as co-defendants, creating an atmosphere of distrust as Assata questions the motivations of her
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Quotes
The following book review first appeared in the Morning Star on 1 September, It is followed by a selection of important quotes from the book.
Assata Shakur’s autobiography &#; first published in and newly republished this year by Zed Books &#; has lost none of its relevance. It remains an essential text for understanding both the prison-industrial complex and the state of race relations in the US, as well as providing a profound insight into the successes and failures of the Black Power movement of the late s and s.
Born in , Assata Shakur (then JoAnne Deborah Byron) grew up between North Carolina and New York, experiencing the intense racism that prevailed &#; and prevails &#; both sides of the Mason-Dixon line. As a black, working class female, she became acutely aware of the special oppression she and others like her faced. As a college student, she came across activists &#; especially students from newly-liberated Africa &#; who challenged her anti-communist prejudices and her internalised stereotypes, and encouraged her to get involved in the struggle for black power and against capitalism and imperialism. This led to her membership of the Black Panther Party and, later, the Black Liberation Army.
The larger part of the book is devoted to documenting Assata’
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