Mumia Abu-Jamals Radio Essays

Black Augustby Marilyn BuckWould you hang on a cliff’s edgesword-sharp, slashing fingerswhile jackboot screws stomp heelson peeled-flesh bonesand laugh“let go! die, damn you, die!”could you hang on 20 years, 30 years?20 years, 30 years and morebrave Black brothers buriedin US koncentration kampsthey hang onBlack light shining in torture chambersRuchell, Yogi, Sundiata, Sekou,Warren, Chip, Seth, Herman, Jalil,and more and more they resist: Black AugustNat Turner insurrection chief executed: Black AugustJonathan, George dead in battle’s light: Black AugustFred Hampton, Black Panthers, African Brotherhood murdered: Black AugustKuwasi Balagoon, Nuh Abdul Quyyam captured warriors dead: Black AugustHarriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Ella Baker, Ida B. WellsQueen Mother Moore – their last breaths drawn fighting death: Black AugustBlack August: watchwordfor Black liberation for human liberationsword to sever the shackleslight to lead children of every nation to safetyBlack August remembranceresist the amerikkan nightmare for lifeMarilyn Buck wrote this poem for Black August 2000. She was released July 15, 2010, after 25 years as an anti-imperialist political prisoner. Then suddenly, only 19 days later, she was gone. Her comrade and fellow former political prisoner Linda Evans broke the sad news: “Our dear comrade Marilyn Buck made her transition yesterday (Aug. 3, 2010) at 1 p.m. EST peacefully and surrounded by friends.” Sister Marpessa Kupendua wrote: “Former political prisoner Marilyn Buck made her transition. Peace and blessings be upon her revolutionary soul! Let her passing motivate us to be on point for all those denied medical care within the walls. Serious illnesses ARE death sentences! Much respect to her struggle on our collective behalf and all those who loved her so strong in her final days!”