UPDATE: A list of confirmed presenters has been added. See the updated flyer in this post for details.
Black August is here. This is an important time of year for the Black Struggle and for Pan Afrikan Organizing, and there is much to inspire us and to shake us out of our collective slumber in the month of Black August. The Haitian Revolution began on August 22, 1791. Nat Turner’s Rebellion was launched from August 21-23, 1831 in Southampton County, Virginia. We celebrate the birthday of The Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey on August 17, 1887. (We will share the announcement of Marcus Garvey Day in Baltimore, Maryland, which is organized every year by Baba Charlie Dugger and Camp Harambee The People, when that announcement is made. The anticipated date for Marcus Garvey Day in Baltimore is Saturday, August 17, the actual birthday of The Honorable Marcus Garvey.) We also remember Black Panther Party Field Marshal George Jackson, who was assassinated on August 21, 1971. And so much more.
“Black August began in the 1970s to mark the assassination of the imprisoned Black Panther, author, and revolutionary George Jackson during a prison rebellion in California. It is a time of reverence to honor political prisoners, freedom fighters, and martyrs of the Black freedom struggle. This month, we celebrate all the political prisoners who have helped us understand that prison is political and that our collective freedom depends on abolishing the state’s capacity, through incarceration, policing, and surveillance, to disrupt communities and diminish principled struggle against the unjust status quo. The month of August is also rich with the history of Black resistance outside, from the Haitian Revolution to the Watts rebellion and the Ferguson uprising. Black August is a reminder of the power in unity, and a mandate to continue joint struggle.”
“As detailed on the Black Collective website, ‘Black August is honored every year to commemorate the fallen freedom fighters of the Black Liberation Movement.’ Rather than simply being retrospective, the month is intended to be forward-looking, encouraging participants ‘to call for the release of political prisoners in the United States, to condemn the oppressive conditions of U.S. prisons’ and to engage in other liberation-aimed political activities.”
– from Blavity News and 5 Things To Know About Black August: An Unforgotten Part Of Black History (yahoo.com)
“Black August was first established in the 1970s by incarcerated Black activists who were fighting against systemic racism and oppression in the United States. These activists wanted to create a month-long tribute to the Black freedom fighters who had come before them, and to draw attention to the ongoing struggle for Black liberation.
“Today, Black August is celebrated in various forms by communities and organizations across the United States and around the world. It is a time to reflect on the rich history of the Black community, and to celebrate the strength, resilience, and creativity of Black people in the face of ongoing challenges and struggles.”
The time is now to get to work organizing our community. In fact, the time has been “now” for as long as we have been aware of the concept of time. But many of us have been asleep or hunkered down in our homes and our safe spaces, especially since the onset of the COVID Pandemic. Now it’s time to come out of our safe spaces and get back to organizing. We’re following up on our recent July 13 Pan Afrikan Community Town Hall Meeting in Baltimore to continue the momentum that we’re building post-COVID.
Pan Afrikan Community Town Hall Meeting: Saturday, August 24, 12 Noon, Temple of New African Thought
The next Pan Afrikan Community Town Hall Meeting of the Maryland Pan Afrikan Cooperative Coalition (MPACC) will be held on Saturday, August 24 at the Temple of New African Thought (TNAT), 5525 Harford Road in East Baltimore. The Town Hall is scheduled to begin at 12:00 Noon and will conclude between 4:00 and 5:00 PM.
The topic will be the building of the Black Women’s Defense Cooperative, featuring presentations from Sisters of Pan Afrikan (Black) Communities of Baltimore, Philadelphia and the surrounding area. Issues concerning personal self-defense, community defense and security, and general emergency preparedness will be addressed.
For more information, email cliff@kuumbareport.com.
Below is a “printer-friendly” version of the flyer:
