Assata Shakur, a prominent figure in the Black liberation movement who spent decades in exile in Cuba, has passed away, according to an announcement from her daughter.
Born Joanne Deborah Chesimard, Shakur died on Thursday in Havana, with Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs attributing her death to complications related to age and declining health.
In a Facebook post on Friday, her daughter, Kakuya Shakur, wrote, “At approximately 1:15 PM on September 25th, my mother, Assata Shakur, took her last earthly breath.
“Words cannot describe the depth of loss that I am feeling at this time. I want to thank you for your loving prayers that continue to anchor me in the strength that I need in this moment. My spirit is overflowing in unison with all of you who are grieving with me at this time.”
ESSENCE magazine also announced on its official Facebook page on Friday that Shakur, a revolutionary activist, author, and former member of the Black Panther Party, has passed away.
Shakur became a prominent figure in the Black Panther Party and later the Black Liberation Army, where she was deeply involved in campaigns for racial justice and liberation in the United States.
In 1984, after escaping from prison in New Jersey where she had been convicted of the 1973 killing of a state trooper, a charge she consistently denied, Shakur fled to Cuba, where she was granted political asylum.
She remained there in exile for decades, living as one of the most well-known fugitives of the U.S. government.
Her life, often described as one of resilience and unyielding resistance, left a profound impact on generations of activists around the world.
Many have continued to cite her writings and speeches as a source of inspiration in movements for social and racial justice.
In its tribute, ESSENCE highlighted one of her most famous quotes:
“It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains.”
“Her legacy lives on in the generations she inspired to stand tall in the face of oppression,” ESSENCE wrote.
Shakur’s passing marks the end of a life that symbolized both controversy and inspiration, and tributes have begun pouring in from across the world.
Shakur gained international attention after escaping from a U.S. prison in 1979, where she was serving a life sentence for the fatal shooting of a police officer.
Her flight to Cuba and subsequent asylum became a flashpoint in U.S.-Cuba relations, symbolizing the deep ideological divide between the two nations.
As a former member of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army, Shakur remained a controversial and iconic figure.
For years, American officials, most notably President Donald Trump during his first term, pressed for her extradition, but Cuba consistently refused. Her death marks the end of a chapter in the long and complex history of political dissent and international asylum.
