Happy birthday to one of our heroes and guides, Fannie Lou Hamer. Her resolve and fearlessness inspire us to never shy away from the mission, and to always give homage to those that carried before us. “When I liberate myself, I liberate others. If you don’t speak out ain’t nobody going to speak out for you.” “We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black people... The question for black people is not, when is the white man going to give us our rights, or when is he going to give us good education for our children, or when is he going to give us jobs-if the white man gives you anything-just remember when he gets ready he will take it right back. We have to take for ourselves.” “The only way we can make this thing of equality a reality in America is to do all we can to destroy this system and bring this out to the light that has been under the cover all these years.” “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired, and we want a change. We want a change in this society in America because, you see, we can no longer ignore the facts and getting our children to sing ‘Oh say can you see, by the dawn’s early light, what so proudly we hailed.’ What do we have to hail here? The truth is the only thing going to free us.” 💛💚❤️ (fb)

Grieving the loss and celebrating the life of Assata Olugbala Shakur today. Her brilliance and resilience are a beautiful example of the revolutionary’s life. And though she was unjustly and unrelentingly targeted by the US government, she never failed to protect her peace and joy, speak truth to power, or carry on the struggle for liberation. From @becauseofthem : “She lived and died free. Assata Shakur has joined the ancestors at 78. A revolutionary. A mother. A writer. A symbol of resistance. Born JoAnne Deborah Byron, she dedicated her life to Black liberation. First through the Black Panther Party, then the Black Liberation Army. In 1973, she was involved in a shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike that left a state trooper dead. She was arrested, convicted, and later escaped prison. Assata always maintained her innocence, and many believed her trial was deeply flawed. Shaped by the government’s efforts to silence and criminalize Black activists. In 1984, she was granted asylum in Cuba, where she lived for over 40 years. To some, she was a fugitive. To us, she was a freedom fighter. Her life in exile was quiet but never hidden. Her story became a syllabus. Her words became gospel. Her name became a call to action. ASSATA. Check out her autobiography at your local library or bookstore to learn more about her story.” 💛💚❤️ (fb)